Room-temperature synthesis of carnation-like ZnO@AgI hierarchical nanostructures assembled by AgI nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanosheets with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity.

PubMed

Huang, He; Huang, Ni; Wang, Zhonghua; Xia, Guangqiang; Chen, Ming; He, Lingling; Tong, Zhifang; Ren, Chunguang

2017-09-15

The preparation of highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst for the photodegradation of organic pollutants has received much attention due to the increasing global energy crises and environmental pollution. In this study, carnation-like ZnO@AgI hierarchical nanostructures assembled by AgI nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanosheets were successfully prepared via a room-temperature route. The as-prepared ZnO@AgI nanostructures exhibited highly efficient photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation (λ>400nm). Under optimized AgI content, the ZnO@AgI-5% sample showed high photocatalytic activity, which was 25.7 and 1.5 times the activity of pure ZnO and pure AgI, respectively. Mechanism studies indicated that superoxide anion radicals (O 2 - ) was the main reactive species in the photocatalytic process. The high photocatalytic activity of the ZnO@AgI nanostructures is attributed to the highly active AgI nanoparticles and the heterojunction between AgI nanoparticles and ZnO nanosheets. The heterojunction structure reduced the recombination of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the conduction band (CB) and valence band (VB) of AgI nanoparticles by transferring the electrons from the CB of AgI nanoparticles to the CB of ZnO nanosheets. The composite of ZnO and AgI not only improves photocatalytic efficiency but also reduces photocatalyst cost, which is beneficial for practical application. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Flowing Liquid Anode Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge as an Excitation Source for Optical Emission Spectrometry with the Improved Detectability of Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb, Tl, and Zn.

PubMed

Greda, Krzysztof; Swiderski, Krzysztof; Jamroz, Piotr; Pohl, Pawel

2016-09-06

A novel atmospheric pressure glow discharge generated in contact with a flowing liquid anode (FLA-APGD) was developed as the efficient excitation source for the optical emission spectrometry (OES) detection. Differences in the appearance and the electrical characteristic of the FLA-APGD and a conventional system operated with a flowing liquid cathode (FLC-APGD) were studied in detail and discussed. Under the optimal operating conditions for the FLA-APGD, the emission from the analytes (Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb, Tl, and Zn) was from 20 to 120 times higher as compared to the FLC-APGD. Limits of detections (LODs) established with a novel FLA-APGD system were on average 20 times better than those obtained for the FLC-APGD. A further improvement of the LODs was achieved by reducing the background shift interferences and, as a result, the LODs for Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb, Tl, and Zn were 0.004, 0.040, 0.70, 1.7, 0.035, and 0.45 μg L(-1), respectively. The precision of the FLA-APGD-OES method was evaluated to be within 2-5% (as the relative standard deviation of the repeated measurements). The method found its application in the determination of the content of Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb, Tl, and Zn in a certified reference material (CRM) of Lobster hepatopancreas (TORT-2), four brass samples as well as mineral water and tea leaves samples spiked with the analytes. In the case of brass samples, a reference method, i.e., inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used. A good agreement between the results obtained with FLA-APGD-OES and the certified values for the CRM TORT-2 as well as the reference values obtained with ICP-OES for the brass samples was revealed, indicating the good accuracy of the proposed method. The recoveries obtained for the spiked samples of mineral water and tea leaves were within the range of 97.5-102%.

Structure and properties of nanostructured ZnO arrays and ZnO/Ag nanocomposites fabricated by pulsed electrodeposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kopach, V. R.; Klepikova, K. S.; Klochko, N. P., E-mail: klochko-np@mail.ru

We investigate the structure, surface morphology, and optical properties of nanostructured ZnO arrays fabricated by pulsed electrodeposition, Ag nanoparticles precipitated from colloidal solutions, and a ZnO/Ag nanocomposite based on them. The electronic and electrical parameters of the ZnO arrays and ZnO/Ag nanocomposites are analyzed by studying the I–V and C–V characteristics. Optimal modes for fabricating the ZnO/Ag heterostructures with the high stability and sensitivity to ultraviolet radiation as promising materials for use in photodetectors, gas sensors, and photocatalysts are determined.

Ultrasound-assisted microwave preparation of Ag-doped CdS nanoparticles.

PubMed

Ma, Jun; Tai, Guo'an; Guo, Wanlin

2010-03-01

Ag-doped CdS nanoparticles were synthesized by an ultrasound-assisted microwave synthesis method. The X-ray diffraction patterns reveal a structural evolution from cubic to hexagonal with increasing molar ratios of Ag(+)/Cd(2+) from 0% to 5%. It shows that the Ag-doped hexagonal CdS nanoparticles are polycrystal. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the CdS nanoparticles doping with 5% Ag(+) shows that the doped Ag in CdS is metallic. Simultaneously, the characteristic Raman peaks of the CdS nanoparticles enhance with increasing Ag(+) concentrations. The photocatalytic activity of different Ag-doped samples show a reasonable change due to different ratios of Ag which doped into CdS. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Selective divalent cobalt ions detection using Ag2O3-ZnO nanocones by ICP-OES method for environmental remediation.

PubMed

Rahman, Mohammed M; Khan, Sher Bahadar; Marwani, Hadi M; Asiri, Abdullah M

2014-01-01

Here, we have synthesized Ag2O3-ZnO nanocones (NCs) by a wet-chemical route using reducing agents at low temperature. The structural, optical and morphological properties of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs were investigated by several conventional techniques such as powder XRD, XPS, FESEM, XEDS, FTIR and UV/vis. spectroscopy. The analytical parameters of prepared NCs were also calculated for a selective detection of divalent cobalt [Co(II)] prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The selectivity of NCs toward various metal ions, including Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) was studied. Results of the selectivity study demonstrated that Ag2O3-ZnO NC phase was the most selective towards Co(II) ion. The uptake capacity for Co(II) ion was experimentally calculated to be ∼76.69 mgg-1. Moreover, adsorption isotherm data provided that the adsorption process was mainly monolayer on homogeneous adsorbent surfaces of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs. Kinetic study revealed that the adsorption of Co(II) on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs phase followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, thermodynamic results provided that the adsorption mechanism of Co(II) ions on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs was a spontaneous process and thermodynamically favorable. Finally, the proposed method was validated by applying it to real environmental water samples with reasonable results.

Antifungal mechanisms of ZnO and Ag nanoparticles to Sclerotinia homoeocarpa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Junli; Sang, Hyunkyu; Guo, Huiyuan; Popko, James T.; He, Lili; White, Jason C.; Parkash Dhankher, Om; Jung, Geunhwa; Xing, Baoshan

2017-04-01

Fungicides have extensively been used to effectively combat fungal diseases on a range of plant species, but resistance to multiple active ingredients has developed in pathogens such as Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, the causal agent of dollar spot on cool-season turfgrasses. Recently, ZnO and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) have received increased attention due to their antimicrobial activities. In this study, the NPs’ toxicity and mechanisms of action were investigated as alternative antifungal agents against S. homoeocarpa isolates that varied in their resistance to demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides. S. homoeocarpa isolates were treated with ZnO NPs and ZnCl2 (25-400 μg ml-1) and Ag NPs and AgNO3 (5-100 μg ml-1) to test antifungal activity of the NPs and ions. The mycelial growth of S. homoeocarpa isolates regardless of their DMI sensitivity was significantly inhibited on ZnO NPs (≥200 μg ml-1), Ag NPs (≥25 μg ml-1), Zn2+ ions (≥200 μg ml-1), and Ag+ ions (≥10 μg ml-1) amended media. Expression of stress response genes, glutathione S-transferase (Shgst1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (ShSOD2), was significantly induced in the isolates by exposure to the NPs and ions. In addition, a significant increase in the nucleic acid contents of fungal hyphae, which may be due to stress response, was observed upon treatment with Ag NPs using Raman spectroscopy. We further observed that a zinc transporter (Shzrt1) might play an important role in accumulating ZnO and Ag NPs into the cells of S. homoeocarpa due to overexpression of Shzrt1 significantly induced by ZnO or Ag NPs within 3 h of exposure. Yeast mutants complemented with Shzrt1 became more sensitive to ZnO and Ag NPs as well as Zn2+ and Ag+ ions than the control strain and resulted in increased Zn or Ag content after exposure. This is the first report of involvement of the zinc transporter in the accumulation of Zn and Ag from NP exposure in filamentous plant pathogenic fungi. Understanding the molecular

Preparation and characterization of double layer thin films ZnO/ZnO:Ag for methylene blue photodegradation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wibowo, Singgih, E-mail: singgih@st.fisika.undip.ac.id; Sutanto, Heri, E-mail: herisutanto@undip.ac.id

2016-02-08

Double layer (DL) thin films of zinc oxide and silver-doped zinc oxide (ZnO/ZnO:Ag) were deposited on glass substrate by sol-gel spray coating technique. The prepared thin films were subjected for optical and photocatalytic studies. UV-visible transmission spectra shows that the subtitution of Ag in ZnO leads to band gap reduction. The influence of Ag doping on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO for the degradation of methylene blue dye was studied under solar radiation. The light absorption over an extended visible region by Ag ion doping in ZnO film contributed equally to improve the photocatalytic activity up to 98.29%.

Bactericidal impact of Ag, ZnO and mixed AgZnO colloidal nanoparticles on H37Rv Mycobacterium tuberculosis phagocytized by THP-1 cell lines.

PubMed

Jafari, Alireza; Mosavari, Nader; Movahedzadeh, Farahnaz; Nodooshan, Saeedeh Jafari; Safarkar, Roya; Moro, Rossella; Kamalzadeh, Morteza; Majidpour, Ali; Boustanshenas, Mina; Mosavi, Tahereh

2017-09-01

The purpose of this research project was to infection of human macrophages (THP-1) cell lines by H 37 Rv strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (H 37 RvMTB) and find out the ratio/dilution of mixture silver (Ag NPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) whose ability to eliminate phagocytized bacteria compared to rifampicin. The colloidal Ag NPs and ZnO NPs were synthesized and their characteristics were evaluated. The THP-1 cell lines were infected with different concentration of H 37 RvMTB. Next, the infected cells were treated with different ratios/dilutions of Ag NPs, ZnO NPs and rifampicin. The THP-1 were lysed and were cultured in Lowenstein-Jensen agar medium, for eight weeks. The TEM and AFM images of NPs and H 37 RvMTB were supplied. It is observed that Ag NPs, 2 Ag :8 ZnO and 8 Ag :2 ZnO did not have any anti-tubercular effects on phagocytized H 37 RvMTB. Conversely, ZnO NPs somehow eliminated 18.7 × 10 4  CFU ml -1 of H 37 RvMTB in concentration of ∼ 0.468 ppm. To compare with 40 ppm of rifampicin, ∼ 0.663 ppm of 5 Ag :5 ZnO had the ability to kill of H 37 RvMTB, too. Based on previous research, ZnO NPs had strong anti-tubercular impact against H 37 RvMTB to in-vitro condition, but it was toxic in concentration of ∼ 0.468 ppm to both of THP-1 and normal lung (MRC-5) cell lines. It also seems that 5 Ag :5 ZnO is justified because in concentration of ∼ 0.663 ppm of 5 Ag :5 ZnO , phagocytized H 37 RvMTB into the THP-1 had died without any toxicity effects against THP-1 and also MRC-5 cell lines. It is obvious that the mixture of colloidal silver and zinc oxide NPs with ratio of 5 Ag :5 ZnO would be trustworthy options as anti-tubercular nano-drugs in future researches. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Halloysite Nanotubes Supported Ag and ZnO Nanoparticles with Synergistically Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shu, Zhan; Zhang, Yi; Yang, Qian; Yang, Huaming

2017-02-01

Novel antimicrobial nanocomposite incorporating halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and silver (Ag) into zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles is prepared by integrating HNTs and decorating Ag nanoparticles. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with a size of about 100 and 8 nm, respectively, are dispersively anchored onto HNTs. The synergistic effects of ZnO NPs, Ag NPs, and HNTs led to the superior antibacterial activity of the Ag-ZnO/HNTs antibacterial nanocomposites. HNTs facilitated the dispersion and stability of ZnO NPs and brought them in close contact with bacteria, while Ag NPs could promote the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and enhanced the antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs. The close contact with cell membrane enabled the nanoparticles to produce the increased concentration of reactive oxygen species and the metal ions to permeate into the cytoplasm, thus induced quick death of bacteria, indicating that Ag-ZnO/HNTs antibacterial nanocomposite is a promising candidate in the antibacterial fields.

Analysis of Etched CdZnTe Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benson, J. D.; Bubulac, L. O.; Jaime-Vasquez, M.; Lennon, C. M.; Arias, J. M.; Smith, P. J.; Jacobs, R. N.; Markunas, J. K.; Almeida, L. A.; Stoltz, A.; Wijewarnasuriya, P. S.; Peterson, J.; Reddy, M.; Jones, K.; Johnson, S. M.; Lofgreen, D. D.

2016-09-01

State-of-the-art as-received (112)B CdZnTe substrates have been examined for surface impurity contamination and polishing residue. Two 4 cm × 4 cm and one 6 cm × 6 cm (112)B state-of-the-art as-received CdZnTe wafers were analyzed. A maximum surface impurity concentration of Al = 1.7 × 1015 atoms cm-2, Si = 3.7 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Cl = 3.12 × 1015 atoms cm-2, S = 1.7 × 1014 atoms cm-2, P = 1.1 × 1014 atoms cm-2, Fe = 1.0 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Br = 1.2 × 1014 atoms cm-2, and Cu = 4 × 1012 atoms cm-2 was observed on the as-received CdZnTe wafers. CdZnTe particulates and residual SiO2 polishing grit were observed on the surface of the as-received (112)B CdZnTe substrates. The polishing grit/CdZnTe particulate density on CdZnTe wafers was observed to vary across a 6 cm × 6 cm wafer from ˜4 × 107 cm-2 to 2.5 × 108 cm-2. The surface impurity and damage layer of the (112)B CdZnTe wafers dictate that a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) preparation etch is required. The contamination for one 4 cm × 4 cm and one 6 cm × 6 cm CdZnTe wafer after a standard MBE Br:methanol preparation etch procedure was also analyzed. A maximum surface impurity concentration of Al = 2.4 × 1015 atoms cm-2, Si = 4.0 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Cl = 7.5 × 1013 atoms cm-2, S = 4.4 × 1013 atoms cm-2, P = 9.8 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Fe = 1.0 × 1013 atoms cm-2, Br = 2.9 × 1014 atoms cm-2, and Cu = 5.2 × 1012 atoms cm-2 was observed on the MBE preparation-etched CdZnTe wafers. The MBE preparation-etched surface contamination consists of Cd(Zn)Te particles/flakes. No residual SiO2 polishing grit was observed on the (112)B surface.

Detection of pathogens using luminescent CdSe/ZnS dendron nanocrystals and a porous membrane immunofilter.

PubMed

Liu, Yongcheng; Brandon, Robert; Cate, Michael; Peng, Xiaogang; Stony, Robert; Johnson, Michael

2007-11-15

A biosensor system for detection of pathogens was developed by using CdSe/ZnS core/shell dendron nanocrystals with high efficiency and stability as fluorescence labels and a flowing chamber with a microporous immunofilter. The antibody-immobilized immunofilter captured the targeted pathogens, Escherichia coli O157:H7 as an example for bacteria and hepatitis B being a model system for viruses. The CdSe/ZnS core/shell dendron nanocrystals were conjugated with the corresponding antibodies and then passed through the microporous membrane where they attached to the membrane-antigen-antibody. The efficient and stable photoluminescence (PL) of the CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals on the formed "sandwich" structure complexes (membrane-antigen-antibody conjugated with the nanocrystals) was used as the detection means. The effects of the pore size of the membranes, buffer pH, and assay time on the detection of E. coli O157:H7 were investigated and optimized. The detectable level of this new system was as low as 2.3 CFU/mL for E. coli O157:H7 and 5 ng/mL for hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg). The assay time was shortened to 30 min without any enrichment and incubation.

Ag nanoparticle-functionalized ZnO micro-flowers for enhanced photodegradation of herbicide derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Yan; Wu, Shumin; Li, Xianliang; Meng, Hao; Zhang, Xia; Wang, Zhuopeng; Han, Yide

2017-07-01

We demonstrate a general strategy to design step by step the Ag nanoparticle-functionalized ZnO micro-flowers (Ag/ZnO composites). XRD patterns confirmed the presence of Ag nanoparticles in ZnO/Ag composites, and the SEM and TEM results further demonstrated that Ag nanoparticles were highly dispersed and anchored onto the surface of each ZnO nanosheets. By using the ZnO/Ag composites, the photodegradation of two herbicide derivatives, metamitron and metribuzin, were studied. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the fact that the Ag deposition could reduce the recombination probability of electron-hole pairs, and the photocatalytic mechanism were also investigated in this paper.

ZnO:Zn/6LiF scintillator-A low afterglow alternative to ZnS:Ag/6LiF for thermal neutron detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sykora, G. Jeff; Schooneveld, Erik M.; Rhodes, Nigel J.

2018-03-01

Current ZnS:Ag/6LiF based scintillation detectors are often count rate limited by the long lifetime afterglow in the scintillator. Despite this drawback, new instruments at neutron scattering facilities, like ISIS in the UK, would still like to use ZnS:Ag/6LiF detectors due to their low gamma sensitivity, high light output, simplicity of detector design and relatively inexpensive production. One particular advantage of ZnS:Ag/6LiF detectors is their ability to provide strong pulse shape discrimination between neutrons and gammas. Despite the advantages of these detectors, it is becoming clear that new and upgraded instruments will be limited by the count rate capability of ZnS:Ag/6LiF, so an alternative scintillator technology with equivalent simplicity is being sought. ZnO:Zn/6LiF is investigated here as a low afterglow alternative to ZnS:Ag/6LiF. Basic scintillation properties of ZnO:Zn are studied and are discussed. Pulse shape discrimination between neutrons and gammas is explored and taken advantage of through simple single photon counting methods. A further step toward a realistic detector for neutron scattering is also taken by fiber coupling the ZnO:Zn/6LiF to a PMT. In an initial study of this fiber coupled configuration, 60Co gamma sensitivity of ∼ 7 × 10-6 is shown and improvements in count rate capability of at least a factor of 6 over ZnS:Ag/6LiF based neutron detectors are demonstrated.

Selective Divalent Cobalt Ions Detection Using Ag2O3-ZnO Nanocones by ICP-OES Method for Environmental Remediation

PubMed Central

Rahman, Mohammed M.; Khan, Sher Bahadar; Marwani, Hadi M.; Asiri, Abdullah M.

2014-01-01

Here, we have synthesized Ag2O3-ZnO nanocones (NCs) by a wet-chemical route using reducing agents at low temperature. The structural, optical and morphological properties of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs were investigated by several conventional techniques such as powder XRD, XPS, FESEM, XEDS, FTIR and UV/vis. spectroscopy. The analytical parameters of prepared NCs were also calculated for a selective detection of divalent cobalt [Co(II)] prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The selectivity of NCs toward various metal ions, including Cd(II), Co(II), Cr(III), Cu(II), Fe(III), Ni(II), and Zn(II) was studied. Results of the selectivity study demonstrated that Ag2O3-ZnO NC phase was the most selective towards Co(II) ion. The uptake capacity for Co(II) ion was experimentally calculated to be ∼76.69 mgg−1. Moreover, adsorption isotherm data provided that the adsorption process was mainly monolayer on homogeneous adsorbent surfaces of Ag2O3-ZnO NCs. Kinetic study revealed that the adsorption of Co(II) on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs phase followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, thermodynamic results provided that the adsorption mechanism of Co(II) ions on Ag2O3-ZnO NCs was a spontaneous process and thermodynamically favorable. Finally, the proposed method was validated by applying it to real environmental water samples with reasonable results. PMID:25464507

Novel red-emission of ternary ZnCdSe semiconductor nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Shu-Ru; Wang, Kuan-Wen; Chen, Hong-Shuo; Chen, Hong-Hong

2015-02-01

The effect of chain lengths of fatty acids on the physical properties of CdSe and ZnCdSe semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized by the colloidal chemistry procedure is investigated. The fatty acids, lauric acid (LA), and stearic acid (SA), with different lengths of carbon chains, are used to prepare CdSe and ZnCdSe NCs when hexyldecylamine (HDA) is applied as the sole surfactant. For CdSe-SA and ZnCdSe-SA, they have the same emission wavelength at 592 nm and the same particle size of 3.3 nm; however, their quantum yield (QY) is 75 and 16 %, respectively. In contrast, the emission wavelength of CdSe-LA and ZnCdSe-LA NCs is 609 and 615 nm, the particle size is about 3.5 and 4 nm under the same reaction time, and the QY of them are 33 and 59 %, respectively. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows that ZnCdSe NCs all have the wurtzite structure, and their main peaks are located between those of pure CdSe and ZnSe materials. The main phase of ZnCdSe-SA and ZnCdSe-LA is ZnSe and CdSe, respectively, implying that alloyed ZnCdSe NC can be prepared and ZnSe and CdSe phase can be promoted by SA and LA, respectively. Moreover, the QY of red-emission ZnCdSe-LA is higher than 50 %. These results suggest that the growth rate of CdSe as well as ZnCdSe NC can be enhanced by using LA as complex reagent and HDA as sole surfactant. It is expected that the reported effective synthetic strategy can be developed as a very practical, easy and not time-consuming approach to prepare red emissive NCs with high QY and high reproducibility.

Metal ion displacements in noncentrosymmetric chalcogenides La3Ga1.67S7, La3Ag0.6GaCh7 (Ch=S, Se), and La3MGaSe7 (M=Zn, Cd)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iyer, Abishek K.; Yin, Wenlong; Rudyk, Brent W.; Lin, Xinsong; Nilges, Tom; Mar, Arthur

2016-11-01

The quaternary Ga-containing chalcogenides La3Ag0.6GaS7, La3Ag0.6GaSe7, La3ZnGaSe7, and La3CdGaSe7, as well as the related ternary chalcogenide La3Ga1.67S7, were prepared by reactions of the elements at 950 °C. They adopt noncentrosymmetric hexagonal structures (space group P63, Z=2) with cell parameters (a=10.2 Å, c=6.1 Å for the sulfides; a=10.6 Å, c=6.4 Å for the selenides) that are largely controlled by the geometrical requirements of one-dimensional stacks of Ga-centered tetrahedra separated by the La atoms. Among these compounds, which share the common formulation La3M1-xGaCh7 (M=Ga, Ag, Zn, Cd; Ch=S, Se), the M atoms occupy sites within a stacking of trigonal antiprisms formed by Ch atoms. The location of the M site varies between extremes with trigonal antiprismatic (CN6) and trigonal planar (CN3) geometry. Partial occupation of these sites and intermediate ones accounts for the considerable versatility of these structures and the occurrence of large metal displacement parameters. The site occupations can be understood in a simple way as being driven by the need to satisfy appropriate bond valence sums for both the M and Ch atoms. Band structure calculations rationalize the substoichiometry observed in the Ag-containing compounds (La3Ag0.6GaS7, La3Ag0.6GaSe7) as a response to overbonding. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy supports the presence of monovalent Ag atoms in these compounds, which are not charge-balanced.

On the interplay of point defects and Cd in non-polar ZnCdO films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zubiaga, A.; Reurings, F.; Tuomisto, F.; Plazaola, F.; García, J. A.; Kuznetsov, A. Yu.; Egger, W.; Zúñiga-Pérez, J.; Muñoz-Sanjosé, V.

2013-01-01

Non-polar ZnCdO films, grown over m- and r-sapphire with a Cd concentration ranging between 0.8% and 5%, have been studied by means of slow positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) combined with chemical depth profiling by secondary ion mass spectroscopy and Rutherford back-scattering. Vacancy clusters and Zn vacancies with concentrations up to 1017 cm-3 and 1018 cm-3, respectively, have been measured inside the films. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy results show that most Cd stays inside the ZnCdO film but the diffused atoms can penetrate up to 1.3 μm inside the ZnO buffer. PAS results give an insight to the structure of the meta-stable ZnCdO above the thermodynamical solubility limit of 2%. A correlation between the concentration of vacancy clusters and Cd has been measured. The concentration of Zn vacancies is one order of magnitude larger than in as-grown non-polar ZnO films and the vacancy cluster are, at least partly, created by the aggregation of smaller Zn vacancy related defects. The Zn vacancy related defects and the vacancy clusters accumulate around the Cd atoms as a way to release the strain induced by the substitutional CdZn in the ZnO crystal.

Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of visible-light-driven plasmonic Ag/AgBr/ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Xiaojuan, E-mail: lixiaojuan@fzu.edu.cn; Tang, Duanlian; Tang, Fan

2014-08-15

Highlights: • A plasmonic Ag/AgBr/ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} photocatalyst has been successfully synthesized. • Ag/AgBr/ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites exhibit high visible light photocatalytic activity. • Ag/AgBr/ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} photocatalyst is stable and magnetically separable. - Abstract: A visible-light-driven plasmonic Ag/AgBr/ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposite has been successfully synthesized via a deposition–precipitation and photoreduction through a novel one-pot process. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were employed to investigate the crystal structure, chemical composition, morphology, and optical properties of the as-prepared nanocomposites. The photocatalytic activities of the nanocomposites were evaluated by photodegradationmore » of Rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol under visible light. The results demonstrated that the obtained Ag/AgBr/ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposites exhibited higher photocatalytic activity as compared to pure ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}. In addition, the sample photoreduced for 20 min and calcined at 500 °C achieved the highest photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the Ag/AgBr/ZnFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanocomposite has high stability under visible light irradiation and could be conveniently separated by using an external magnetic field.« less

Luminophores of tunable colors from ternary Ag-In-S and quaternary Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals covering the visible to near-infrared spectral range.

PubMed

Gabka, Grzegorz; Bujak, Piotr; Kotwica, Kamil; Ostrowski, Andrzej; Lisowski, Wojciech; Sobczak, Janusz W; Pron, Adam

2017-01-04

Ternary Ag-In-S or quaternary Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals were prepared from simple precursors (silver nitrate, indium(iii) chloride, zinc stearate in a mixture of DDT and ODE) by injecting a solution of elemental sulfur into OLA. Ternary nanocrystals were modified by depositing either a ZnS or a CdS shell, yielding type I and type II core/shell systems exhibiting photoluminescence QY in the range of 12-16%. Careful optimization of the reaction conditions allowed alloyed quaternary Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystals exhibiting tunable photoluminescence in the spectral range of 520-720 nm with a QY of 48% and 59% for green and red radiations, respectively, to be obtained. 1 H NMR analysis of the nanocrystal organic shell, after dissolution of its inorganic core, indicated that surfacial sulfur atoms were covalently bonded to aliphatic chains whereas surfacial cations were coordinated by amines and carboxylate anions. No thiol-type ligands were detected. Transfer of the prepared nanocrystals to water could be achieved in one step by exchanging the initial ligands for 11-mercaptoundecanoic ones resulting in a QY value of 31%. A new Ag-In-Zn-S nanocrystal preparation method was elaborated in which indium and zinc salts of fatty acids were used as cation precursors and DDT was replaced by thioacetamide. This original DDT-free method enabled similar tuning of the photoluminescence properties of the nanocrystals as in the previous method; however the measured photoluminescence QYs were three times lower. Hence, further optimization of the new method is required.

Structural and electronic properties of CdSe/ZnS and ZnS/CdSe core/shell nanowires via first principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rehman, Shafiq Ur; Li, H. M.; Ding, Z. J.

2018-05-01

First principles calculations have been performed to predict the structural stability and electronic structures of hydrogen passivated wurtzite CdSe/ZnS and ZnS/CdSe core/shell nanowires (CSNWs) in the [0001] direction. The calculated binding energy shows that ZnS/CdSe CSNWs are more stable than CdSe/ZnS CSNWs and the stability of ZnS/CdSe CSNWs increases with increasing the thickness of ZnS shell. The modulated electronic band gap demonstrates an increase when the size of both CSNWs is reduced, as a result of the quantum confinement effect. The core-to-shell chemical composition of atoms shows that a strong composition effect also exists in these CSNWs, which in turn affects their electronic properties. Our simulated results show that the photoemission spectra of the CSNWs can be significantly improved by tuning the energy gap of CSNWs.

Structural and optoelectronic studies on Ag-CdS quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim Mohammed S., M.; Gubari, Ghamdan M. M.; Huse, Nanasaheb P.; Dive, Avinash S.; Sharma, Ramphal

2018-05-01

In the present study, we have successfully deposited CdS quantum dot thin films and Ag doped CdS on a glass slide by simple and economical chemical bath deposition at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction method analysis reveals that CdS thin films exhibit hexagonal structure when compared with standard JCPDS data. The estimated average crystallite size of the quantum dots and resulted in the least crystallite size of ˜9 nm. a comparison between the optical and electrical properties of the films before and after doping Ag was made through measuring and analyzing the curves for UV and I-V. From UV absorption spectra we observed that the samples exhibited a band edge near ˜400 nm with a slight deviation with the presence of excitonic peak for both CdS and Ag doped CdS. The presence of excitonic peak may be referred to the formation of quantum dots. The calculated band gap energy of thin films was found to be 3.45 eV and 3.15 eV for both CdS and Ag doped CdS thin films respectively, where the optical absorption spectra of Ag doped CdS nanoparticles also exhibit shift with respect to that of CdS quantum dots thin films. The photosensitive of CdS thin films show an increase in photocurrent when Ag doped CdS.

Enhanced wound healing activity of Ag-ZnO composite NPs in Wistar Albino rats.

PubMed

Kantipudi, Sravani; Sunkara, Jhansi Rani; Rallabhandi, Muralikrishna; Thonangi, Chandi Vishala; Cholla, Raga Deepthi; Kollu, Pratap; Parvathaneni, Madhu Kiran; Pammi, Sri Venkata Narayana

2018-06-01

In the present study, silver (Ag) and Ag-zinc oxide (ZnO) composite nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesised and studied their wound-healing efficacy on rat model. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy of AgNPs displayed an intense surface plasmon (SP) resonance absorption at 450 nm. After the addition of aqueous Zn acetate solution, SP resonance band has shown at 413.2 nm indicating a distinct blue shift of about 37 nm. X-ray diffraction analysis Ag-ZnO composite NPs displayed existence of two mixed sets of diffraction peaks, i.e. both Ag and ZnO, whereas AgNPs exhibited face-centred cubic structures of metallic Ag. Scanning electron microscope (EM) and transmission EM analyses of Ag-ZnO composite NPs revealed the morphology to be monodispersed hexagonal and quasi-hexagonal NPs with distribution of particle size of 20-40 nm. Furthermore, the authors investigated the wound-healing properties of Ag-ZnO composite NPs in an animal model and found that rapid healing within 10 days when compared with pure AgNPs and standard drug dermazin.

Sulfonated graphene oxide-ZnO-Ag photocatalyst for fast photodegradation and disinfection under visible light.

PubMed

Gao, Peng; Ng, Kokseng; Sun, Darren Delai

2013-11-15

Synthesis of efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst is urgent but challenging for environmental remediation. In this work, for the first time, the hierarchical plasmonic sulfonated graphene oxide-ZnO-Ag (SGO-ZnO-Ag) composites were prepared through nanocrystal-seed-directed hydrothermal method combining with polyol-reduction process. The results indicated that SGO-ZnO-Ag exhibited much faster rate in photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and disinfection of Escherichia coli (E. coli), than ZnO, SGO-ZnO and ZnO-Ag. SGO-ZnO-Ag totally degraded RhB dye and kill 99% of E. coli within 20 min under visible light irradiation. The outstanding performances of SGO-ZnO-Ag were attributed to the synergetic merits of SGO sheets, ZnO nanorod arrays and Ag nanoparticles. Firstly, the light absorption ability of SGO-ZnO-Ag composite in the visible region was enhanced due to the surface plasmon resonance of Ag. In addition, the hierarchical structure of SGO-ZnO-Ag composite improved the incident light scattering and reflection. Furthermore, SGO sheets facilitated charge transfer and reduce electron-hole recombination rate. Finally, the tentative mechanism was proposed and verified by the photoluminescence (PL) measurement as well as the theoretical finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation. In view of above, this work paves the way for preparation of multi-component plasmonic composites and highlights the potential applications of SGO-ZnO-Ag in photocatalytic wastewater treatment field. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Electrically conductive nanostructured silver doped zinc oxide (Ag:ZnO) prepared by solution-immersion technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Afaah, A. N., E-mail: afaahabdullah@yahoo.com; Asib, N. A. M., E-mail: amierahasib@yahoo.com; Aadila, A., E-mail: aadilaazizali@gmail.com

2016-07-06

p-type ZnO films have been fabricated on ZnO-seeded glass substrate, using AgNO{sub 3} as a source of silver dopant by facile solution-immersion. Cleaned glass substrate were seeded with ZnO by mist-atomisation, and next the seeded substrates were immersed in Ag:ZnO solution. The effects of Ag doping concentration on the Ag-doped ZnO have been investigated. The substrates were immersed in different concentrations of Ag dopant with variation of 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 at. %. The surface morphology of the films was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). In order to investigate the electrical properties, the films weremore » characterized by Current-Voltage (I-V) measurement. FESEM micrographs showed uniform distribution of nanostructured ZnO and Ag:ZnO. Besides, the electrical properties of Ag-doped ZnO were also dependent on the doping concentration. The I-V measurement result indicated the electrical properties of 1 at. % Ag:ZnO thin film owned highest electrical conductivity.« less

Effect of heavy Ag doping on the physical properties of ZnO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, Qingyu; Zhao, Chunwang; Jia, Xiaofang; Xu, Zhenchao

2018-04-01

The band structure, density of state and absorption spectrum of Zn1‑xAgxO (x = 0.02778, 0.04167) were calculated. Results indicated that a higher doping content of Ag led to a higher total energy, lower stability, higher formation energy, narrower bandgap, more significant red shift of the absorption spectrum, higher relative concentration of free hole, smaller hole effective mass, lower mobility and better conductivity. Furthermore, four types of model with the same doping content of double Ag-doped Zn1‑xAgxO (x = 0.125) but different manners of doping were established. Two types of models with different doping contents of double Ag-doped Zn1‑xAgxO (x = 0.0626, 0.0833) but the same manner of doping, were also established. Under the same doping content and different ordering occupations in Ag double doping, the doped system almost caused magnetic quenching upon the nearest neighbor -Ag-O-Ag- bonding at the direction partial to the a- or b-axis. Upon the next-nearest neighbor of -Ag-O-Zn-O-Ag- bonding at the direction partial to the c-axis, the total magnetic moment of the doped system increased, and the doped system reached a Curie temperature above the room-temperature. All these results indicated that the magnetic moments of Ag double-doped ZnO systems decreased with increased Ag doping content. Within the range of the mole number of the doping content of 0.02778-0.04167, a greater Ag doping content led to a narrower bandgap of the doped system and a more significant red shift in the absorption spectrum. The absorption spectrum of the doped ZnO system with interstitial Ag also shows a red shift.

Manipulation of surface morphology of flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorods to enhance photocatalytic performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

U-thaipan, Kasira; Tedsree, Karaked

2018-06-01

The surface morphology of flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorod can be manipulated by adopting different synthetic routes and also loading different levels of Ag in order to alter their surface structures to achieve the maximum photocatalytic efficiency. In a single-step preparation method Ag/ZnO was prepared by heating directly a mixture of Zn2+ and Ag+ precursors in an aqueous NaOH-ethylene glycol solution, while in the two-step preparation method an intermediate of flower-shaped ZnO nanorod was obtained by a hydrothermal process before depositing Ag particles on the ZnO surfaces by chemical reduction. The structure, morphology and optical properties of the synthesized samples were characterized using TEM, SEM, XRD, DRS and PL techniques. The sample prepared by single-step method are characterized with agglomeration of Ag atoms as clusters on the surface of ZnO, whereas in the sample prepared by two-step method Ag atoms are found uniformly dispersed and deposited as discrete Ag nanoparticles on the surface of ZnO. A significant enhancement in the adsorption of visible light was evident for Ag/ZnO samples prepared by two-step method especially with low Ag content (0.5 mol%). The flower-like Ag/ZnO nanorod prepared with 0.5 mol% Ag by two-step process was found to be the most efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of phenol, which can decompose 90% of phenol within 120 min.

Diffusion Mechanisms of Ag atom in ZnO crystal: A First Principles Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masoumi, Saeed; Noori, Amirreza; Nadimi, Ebrahim

2017-12-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is currently under intensive investigation, as a result of its various applications in micro, nano and optoelectronics. However, a stable and reproducible p-type doping of ZnO is still a main challenging issue. Group IB elements such as Au, Cu and Ag, are promising candidates for p-type doping. Particularly, Ag atoms has been shown to be able to easily diffuse through the crystal structure of ZnO and lead to the p-type doping of the host crystal. However, the current understanding of Ag defects and their mobility in the ZnO crystal is still not fully explored. In this work, we report the results of our first-principles calculations based on density functional theory for Ag defects, particularly the interstitial and substitutional defects in ZnO crystal. Defect formation energies are calculated in different charged states as a function of Fermi energy in order to clarify the p-type behaviour of Ag-doped ZnO. We also investigate the diffusion behaviour and migration paths of Ag in ZnO crystal in the framework of density functional theory applying climbing image (CI) nudged elastic band method (NEB).

Enhanced photocatalytic performances and magnetic recovery capacity of visible-light-driven Z-scheme ZnFe2O4/AgBr/Ag photocatalyst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Jie; Cheng, Yahui; Wang, Tianzhao; Feng, Deqiang; Zheng, Lingcheng; Shao, Dawei; Wang, Weichao; Wang, Weihua; Lu, Feng; Dong, Hong; Zheng, Rongkun; Liu, Hui

2018-05-01

High efficiency, high stability and easy recovery are three key factors for practical photocatalysts. Z-scheme heterostructure is one of the most promising photocatalytic systems to meet all above requirements. However, efficient Z-scheme photocatalysts which could absorb visible light are still few and difficult to implement at present. In this work, the composite photocatalysts ZnFe2O4/AgBr/Ag were prepared through a two-step method. A ∼92% photodegradation rate on methyl orange was observed within 30 min under visible light, which is much better than that of individual ZnFe2O4 or AgBr/Ag. The stability was also greatly improved compared with AgBr/Ag. The increased performance is resulted from the suitable band alignment of ZnFe2O4 and AgBr, and it is defined as Z-scheme mechanism which was demonstrated by detecting active species and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Besides, ZnFe2O4/AgBr/Ag is ferromagnetic and can be recycled by magnet. These results show that ZnFe2O4/AgBr/Ag is a potential magnetically recyclable photocatalyst which can be driven by visible light.

Contents of Ag and other metals in food-contact plastics with nanosilver or Ag ion and their migration into food simulants.

PubMed

Ozaki, Asako; Kishi, Eri; Ooshima, Tomoko; Hase, Atsushi; Kawamura, Yoko

2016-09-01

Six nanosilver-labelled products and five silver ion (Ag(+))-labelled products were investigated to measure the migration of Ag from food-contact plastics, including nanosilver into various food simulants. The products were obtained in Japanese markets in 2012. Zinc (Zn), another major antimicrobial agent, and three harmful metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), were also examined. Ag and Zn were detected in all six nanosilver products at concentrations of 21-200 and 8.4-140 mg kg(-1), respectively. These metals were also detected in all five Ag(+) products at the same level as nanosilver products. Cd, Pb and As were not detected in any sample. Migrations of Ag and Zn were highest in 4% acetic acid, but also observed in water and 20% ethanol. Big differences were not observed in the migration ratio between nanosilver products and Ag(+) products. The ultrafiltration experiments suggested that the Ag that migrated from nanosilver products into 4% acetic acid was in its ionic form, while that into water and 20% ethanol was in its nanoparticle form.

The investigation of Ag/ZnO interface system by first principle: The structural, electronic and optical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Hai-Xia; Wang, Xiao-Xu; Beijing Computing Center, Beijing 100094

Ag/ZnO interfaces have been investigated for both of Zn-termination and O-termination by the first principle based on density functional theory. Our calculations demonstrate that the Ag atoms go inward from the Ag/ZnO interface, and the Zn and O atoms are all move outward bulk in the Zn-termination interface, and the changes are just opposite for O-termination. These behaviors are in agreement with the other studies in literatures. Furthermore, an expansion situation is observed in the first two Zn-O bilayer and first three Ag monolayers for both of Zn-termination and O-termination interfaces by comparing with the pure ZnO(0001) and Ag(111) surfaces.more » Moreover, the valence-band both of O-2p and Zn-3d states of Ag/ZnO interface gradual close to Femi level as the Zn, O atoms locate at the deeper layer for Zn-termination, but it is the other way round for O-termination. Calculated absorption spectrum indicates that the absorption intensity of Zn-termination interface is stronger than that of O-termination in the lower energy range (visible light region). These properties of ZnO surfaces are also evaluated for comparison with interfaces. - Graphical abstract: The structures of Ag/ZnO interface: Zn-termination (left) and O-termination (right). In this Ag/ZnO interface system, the ZnO (0001) surface is rotated 30°(R30), and Ag (111) surface is built (2×2) supercell, then a (2×√3) R30 Ag/ZnO interface is constructed using the supercell method (i.e. periodically repeated slabs). The lattice mismatch of (2×√3) R30 Ag/ZnO (2.6% mismatch) is smaller than that of (1×1) Ag/ZnO (11% mismatch).« less

A mixture toxicity approach to predict the toxicity of Ag decorated ZnO nanomaterials.

PubMed

Azevedo, S L; Holz, T; Rodrigues, J; Monteiro, T; Costa, F M; Soares, A M V M; Loureiro, S

2017-02-01

Nanotechnology is a rising field and nanomaterials can now be found in a vast variety of products with different chemical compositions, sizes and shapes. New nanostructures combining different nanomaterials are being developed due to their enhancing characteristics when compared to nanomaterials alone. In the present study, the toxicity of a nanostructure composed by a ZnO nanomaterial with Ag nanomaterials on its surface (designated as ZnO/Ag nanostructure) was assessed using the model-organism Daphnia magna and its toxicity predicted based on the toxicity of the single components (Zn and Ag). For that ZnO and Ag nanomaterials as single components, along with its mixture prepared in the laboratory, were compared in terms of toxicity to ZnO/Ag nanostructures. Toxicity was assessed by immobilization and reproduction tests. A mixture toxicity approach was carried out using as starting point the conceptual model of Concentration Addition. The laboratory mixture of both nanomaterials showed that toxicity was dependent on the doses of ZnO and Ag used (immobilization) or presented a synergistic pattern (reproduction). The ZnO/Ag nanostructure toxicity prediction, based on the percentage of individual components, showed an increase in toxicity when compared to the expected (immobilization) and dependent on the concentration used (reproduction). This study demonstrates that the toxicity of the prepared mixture of ZnO and Ag and of the ZnO/Ag nanostructure cannot be predicted based on the toxicity of their components, highlighting the importance of taking into account the interaction between nanomaterials when assessing hazard and risk. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ag@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles study by first principle: The structural, magnetic and optical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Hai-Xia; Wang, Xiao-Xu; Beijing Computing Center, Beijing 100094

Ag@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles of around 72 atoms have been investigated by the density functional theory, revealing proving for the first time that the core-shell structure exhibits a shrinkage phenomenon from outer shell in agreement with the other studies in literatures. Our calculations predict that the Ag@ZnO core-shell structure is a ferromagnetic spin polarized state, and the magnetism mainly stems from the spin splitting of 2p electrons of O atoms. In addition, the total and partial DOS of Ag@ZnO indicate that the nanostructure is a half-metallic nanoparticle and has the characters of the p-type semiconductor. Furthermore, the optical properties calculations showmore » that the absorption edge of Ag@ZnO have a red shift and good photocatalysis compare to that of the bulk ZnO. These results of the Ag@ZnO core-shell structure obtain a well agreement with the experimental measurement. - Graphical abstract: Geometric structure of (a) Ag@ZnO core-shell nanostructure; (b) the core of Ag; (c) the shell of ZnO The core-shell nanoparticle Ag@ZnO contains Ag inner core of radius of 4 Å and ZnO outer shell with thickness of 2 Å. Ag@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles of around 72 atoms have been proved for the first time that the core-shell structure exhibit a shrinkage phenomenon from outer shell. Our calculations predict that the Ag@ZnO core-shell structure is a half-metallic nanoparticle and has the characters of the p-type semiconductor. The absorption edge of Ag@ZnO have a red shift and get good photo-catalysis compare to that of the bulk ZnO.« less

Core-Shell Zn x Cd1- x Se/Zn y Cd1- y Se Quantum Dots for Nonvolatile Memory and Electroluminescent Device Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Amoody, Fuad; Suarez, Ernesto; Rodriguez, Angel; Heller, E.; Huang, Wenli; Jain, F.

2011-08-01

This paper presents a floating quantum dot (QD) gate nonvolatile memory device using high-energy-gap Zn y Cd1- y Se-cladded Zn x Cd1- x Se quantum dots ( y > x) with tunneling layers comprising nearly lattice-matched semiconductors (e.g., ZnS/ZnMgS) on Si channels. Also presented is the fabrication of an electroluminescent (EL) device with embedded cladded ZnCdSe quantum dots. These ZnCdSe quantum dots were embedded between indium tin oxide (ITO) on glass and a top Schottky metal electrode deposited on a thin CsF barrier. These QDs, which were nucleated in a photo-assisted microwave plasma (PMP) metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactor, were grown between the source and drain regions on a p-type silicon substrate of the nonvolatile memory device. The composition of QD cladding, which relates to the value of y in Zn y Cd1- y Se, was engineered by the intensity of ultraviolet light, which controlled the incorporation of zinc in ZnCdSe. The QD quality is comparable to those deposited by other methods. Characteristics and modeling of the II-VI quantum dots as well as two diverse types of devices are presented in this paper.

Preparation and Use of Photocatalytically Active Segmented Ag|ZnO and Coaxial TiO2-Ag Nanowires Made by Templated Electrodeposition

PubMed Central

Maijenburg, A. Wouter; Rodijk, Eddy J.B.; Maas, Michiel G.; ten Elshof, Johan E.

2014-01-01

Photocatalytically active nanostructures require a large specific surface area with the presence of many catalytically active sites for the oxidation and reduction half reactions, and fast electron (hole) diffusion and charge separation. Nanowires present suitable architectures to meet these requirements. Axially segmented Ag|ZnO and radially segmented (coaxial) TiO2-Ag nanowires with a diameter of 200 nm and a length of 6-20 µm were made by templated electrodeposition within the pores of polycarbonate track-etched (PCTE) or anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes, respectively. In the photocatalytic experiments, the ZnO and TiO2 phases acted as photoanodes, and Ag as cathode. No external circuit is needed to connect both electrodes, which is a key advantage over conventional photo-electrochemical cells. For making segmented Ag|ZnO nanowires, the Ag salt electrolyte was replaced after formation of the Ag segment to form a ZnO segment attached to the Ag segment. For making coaxial TiO2-Ag nanowires, a TiO2 gel was first formed by the electrochemically induced sol-gel method. Drying and thermal annealing of the as-formed TiO2 gel resulted in the formation of crystalline TiO2 nanotubes. A subsequent Ag electrodeposition step inside the TiO2 nanotubes resulted in formation of coaxial TiO2-Ag nanowires. Due to the combination of an n-type semiconductor (ZnO or TiO2) and a metal (Ag) within the same nanowire, a Schottky barrier was created at the interface between the phases. To demonstrate the photocatalytic activity of these nanowires, the Ag|ZnO nanowires were used in a photocatalytic experiment in which H2 gas was detected upon UV illumination of the nanowires dispersed in a methanol/water mixture. After 17 min of illumination, approximately 0.2 vol% H2 gas was detected from a suspension of ~0.1 g of Ag|ZnO nanowires in a 50 ml 80 vol% aqueous methanol solution. PMID:24837535

Metal ion displacements in noncentrosymmetric chalcogenides La{sub 3}Ga{sub 1.67}S{sub 7}, La{sub 3}Ag{sub 0.6}GaCh{sub 7} (Ch=S, Se), and La{sub 3}MGaSe{sub 7} (M=Zn, Cd)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Iyer, Abishek K.; Yin, Wenlong; Institute of Chemical Materials, China Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang 621900

The quaternary Ga-containing chalcogenides La{sub 3}Ag{sub 0.6}GaS{sub 7}, La{sub 3}Ag{sub 0.6}GaSe{sub 7}, La{sub 3}ZnGaSe{sub 7}, and La{sub 3}CdGaSe{sub 7}, as well as the related ternary chalcogenide La{sub 3}Ga{sub 1.67}S{sub 7}, were prepared by reactions of the elements at 950 °C. They adopt noncentrosymmetric hexagonal structures (space group P6{sub 3}, Z=2) with cell parameters (a=10.2 Å, c=6.1 Å for the sulfides; a=10.6 Å, c=6.4 Å for the selenides) that are largely controlled by the geometrical requirements of one-dimensional stacks of Ga-centered tetrahedra separated by the La atoms. Among these compounds, which share the common formulation La{sub 3}M{sub 1–x}GaCh{sub 7} (M=Ga, Ag,more » Zn, Cd; Ch=S, Se), the M atoms occupy sites within a stacking of trigonal antiprisms formed by Ch atoms. The location of the M site varies between extremes with trigonal antiprismatic (CN6) and trigonal planar (CN3) geometry. Partial occupation of these sites and intermediate ones accounts for the considerable versatility of these structures and the occurrence of large metal displacement parameters. The site occupations can be understood in a simple way as being driven by the need to satisfy appropriate bond valence sums for both the M and Ch atoms. Band structure calculations rationalize the substoichiometry observed in the Ag-containing compounds (La{sub 3}Ag{sub 0.6}GaS{sub 7}, La{sub 3}Ag{sub 0.6}GaSe{sub 7}) as a response to overbonding. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy supports the presence of monovalent Ag atoms in these compounds, which are not charge-balanced. - Graphical abstract: Partial occupation of metal atoms in multiple sites accounts for versatility in Ga-containing chalcogenides La{sub 3}M{sub 1–x}GaCh{sub 7} with noncentrosymmetric hexagonal structures. - Highlights: • La{sub 3}M{sub 1–x}GaCh{sub 7} (M =Ga, Ag, Zn, Cd; Ch =S, Se) adopt related hexagonal structures. • Large displacements of M atoms originate from partial occupation of

CdCl2 passivation of polycrystalline CdMgTe and CdZnTe absorbers for tandem photovoltaic cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swanson, Drew E.; Reich, Carey; Abbas, Ali; Shimpi, Tushar; Liu, Hanxiao; Ponce, Fernando A.; Walls, John M.; Zhang, Yong-Hang; Metzger, Wyatt K.; Sampath, W. S.; Holman, Zachary C.

2018-05-01

As single-junction silicon solar cells approach their theoretical limits, tandems provide the primary path to higher efficiencies. CdTe alloys can be tuned with magnesium (CdMgTe) or zinc (CdZnTe) for ideal tandem pairing with silicon. A II-VI/Si tandem holds the greatest promise for inexpensive, high-efficiency top cells that can be quickly deployed in the market using existing polycrystalline CdTe manufacturing lines combined with mature silicon production lines. Currently, all high efficiency polycrystalline CdTe cells require a chloride-based passivation process to passivate grain boundaries and bulk defects. This research examines the rich chemistry and physics that has historically limited performance when extending Cl treatments to polycrystalline 1.7-eV CdMgTe and CdZnTe absorbers. A combination of transmittance, quantum efficiency, photoluminescence, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy clearly reveals that during passivation, Mg segregates and out-diffuses, initially at the grain boundaries but eventually throughout the bulk. CdZnTe exhibits similar Zn segregation behavior; however, the onset and progression is localized to the back of the device. After passivation, CdMgTe and CdZnTe can render a layer that is reduced to predominantly CdTe electro-optical behavior. Contact instabilities caused by inter-diffusion between the layers create additional complications. The results outline critical issues and paths for these materials to be successfully implemented in Si-based tandems and other applications.

CdCl2 Passivation of Polycrystalline CdMgTe and CdZnTe Absorbers for Tandem Photovoltaic Cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Metzger, Wyatt K; Swanson, Drew; Reich, Carey

As single-junction silicon solar cells approach their theoretical limits, tandems provide the primary path to higher efficiencies. CdTe alloys can be tuned with magnesium (CdMgTe) or zinc (CdZnTe) for ideal tandem pairing with silicon. A II-VI/Si tandem holds the greatest promise for inexpensive, high-efficiency top cells that can be quickly deployed in the market using existing polycrystalline CdTe manufacturing lines combined with mature silicon production lines. Currently, all high efficiency polycrystalline CdTe cells require a chloride-based passivation process to passivate grain boundaries and bulk defects. This research examines the rich chemistry and physics that has historically limited performance when extendingmore » Cl treatments to polycrystalline 1.7-eV CdMgTe and CdZnTe absorbers. A combination of transmittance, quantum efficiency, photoluminescence, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy clearly reveals that during passivation, Mg segregates and out-diffuses, initially at the grain boundaries but eventually throughout the bulk. CdZnTe exhibits similar Zn segregation behavior; however, the onset and progression is localized to the back of the device. After passivation, CdMgTe and CdZnTe can render a layer that is reduced to predominantly CdTe electro-optical behavior. Contact instabilities caused by inter-diffusion between the layers create additional complications. The results outline critical issues and paths for these materials to be successfully implemented in Si-based tandems and other applications.« less

Liquid petroleum gas sensing application of ZnO/CdO:ZnO nanocomposites at low temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajput, Jeevitesh K.; Pathak, T. K.; Kumar, V.; Swart, H. C.; Purohit, L. P.

2018-04-01

ZnO and CdO:ZnO nanoparticles are synthesized by sol-gel precipitation method. The structural analysis shows composite structure for CdO:ZnO nanoparticles with (002) and (111) phase. The SEM images show wedge like morphology and 3-D hexagonal morphology with ˜110 nm in size. The uniform growth of CdO:ZnO nanoparticles were observed in EDS element mapping image. LPG sensing was observed for CdO:ZnO nanoparticle with rapid sensing response 8.69% at operating temperature 50°C. This sensing response can be accounted due by absorption ions reactions at low operating temperature.

Origin of luminescence from ZnO/CdS core/shell nanowire arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhiqiang; Wang, Jian; Sham, Tsun-Kong; Yang, Shaoguang

2014-07-01

Chemical imaging, electronic structure and optical properties of ZnO/CdS nano-composites have been investigated using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) spectroscopy. STXM and XANES results confirm that the as-prepared product is ZnO/CdS core/shell nanowires (NWs), and further indicate that ZnS was formed on the surface of ZnO NWs as the interface between ZnO and CdS. The XEOL from ZnO/CdS NW arrays exhibits one weak ultraviolet (UV) emission at 375 nm, one strong green emission at 512 nm, and two broad infrared (IR) emissions at 750 and 900 nm. Combining XANES and XEOL, it is concluded that the UV luminescence is the near band gap emission (BGE) of ZnO; the green luminescence comes from both the BGE of CdS and defect emission (DE, zinc vacancies) of ZnO; the IR luminescence is attributed to the DE (bulk defect related to the S site) of CdS; ZnS contributes little to the luminescence of the ZnO/CdS NW arrays. Interestingly, the BGE and DE from oxygen vacancies of ZnO in the ZnO/CdS nano-composites are almost entirely quenched, while DE from zinc vacancies changes little.Chemical imaging, electronic structure and optical properties of ZnO/CdS nano-composites have been investigated using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL) spectroscopy. STXM and XANES results confirm that the as-prepared product is ZnO/CdS core/shell nanowires (NWs), and further indicate that ZnS was formed on the surface of ZnO NWs as the interface between ZnO and CdS. The XEOL from ZnO/CdS NW arrays exhibits one weak ultraviolet (UV) emission at 375 nm, one strong green emission at 512 nm, and two broad infrared (IR) emissions at 750 and 900 nm. Combining XANES and XEOL, it is concluded that the UV luminescence is the near band gap emission (BGE) of ZnO; the green luminescence comes from both the

Theoretical study of ZnS/CdS bi-layer for thin-film CdTe solar cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, H. A.; Mohamed, A. S.; Ali, H. M.

2018-05-01

The performance of CdTe solar cells is strongly limited by the thickness of CdS window layer. A higher short-circuit current density might be achieved by decreasing the thickness of CdS layer as a result of reducing the absorption losses that take place in this layer. However, it is difficult to obtain uniform and pin-hole free CdS layers thinner than 50 nm. This problem can be solved through increasing the band gap of the window layer by adding a wide band gap semiconductor such as ZnS. In this work, bi-layer ZnS/CdS film was studied as an improved window layer of ITO/ZnS/CdS/CdTe solar cell. The total thickness of ZnS/CdS layer was taken about 60 nm. The effect of optical losses due to reflection at different interfaces in the cell and absorption in ITO, ZnS, CdS as well as the recombination loss have been studied. Finally, the effects of the recombination losses in the space-charge region and the reflectivity from the back contact were taken into accounts. The results revealed that the optical losses of 23% were achieved at 60 nm thickness of CdS and theses losses minimized to 18% when ZnS layer of 30 nm thickness was added to CdS layer. The minimum optical and recombination losses of about 26% were obtained at 1 ns of electron life-time and ∼0.4 μm width of the space-charge region. The maximum efficiency of 18.5% was achieved for ITO/CdS/CdTe cell and the efficiency increased up to 20% for ITO/ZnS/CdS/CdTe cell.

ZnO:Ag nanorods as efficient photocatalysts: Sunlight driven photocatalytic degradation of sulforhodamine B

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raji, R.; K. S., Sibi; K. G., Gopchandran

2018-01-01

Visible light responsive highly photocatalytic ZnO:Ag nanorods with varying Ag concentration were synthesized via co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction analysis and high resolution transmission electron microscopy investigations confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite phase for these ZnO:Ag nanorods with preferential growth along the (101) plane. Raman shift and luminescence measurements indicated that the incorporation of Ag influences the lattice vibrational modes; there by causing distortion in lattice, inducing silent vibrational modes and emission behavior by quenching of both the band edge and visible emissions respectively. The photocatalytic performance of these nanorods as catalysts was tested by observing the photodegradation of a representative dye pollutant, viz., sulforhodamine B under sunlight irradiation. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated by determining the rate of reaction kinetics, photodegradation efficiency and mineralization efficiency. A high rate constant of 0.552 min-1, chemical oxygen demand value of 5.8 ppm and a mineralization efficiency of 94% were obtained when ZnO: Ag nanorods with an Ag content of 1.5 at.% were used as catalysts. The observed increase in photocatalytic efficiency with Ag content in ZnO:Ag nanorods is attributed to the electron scavenging action of silver, Schottky barrier between the Ag and ZnO interface and the better utilization of sunlight due to enhanced absorption due to plasmons in the visible region. BET analysis indicated that silver doping causes effective surface area of nanorods to increase, which in turn increases the photocatalytic efficiency. The possible mechanism for degradation of dye under sunlight irradiation is described with a schematic and the photostability of the ZnO:Ag nanorods were also tested through five repetitive cycles. This work suggests that the prepared ZnO:Ag nanorods are excellent reusable photocatalysts for the degradation of toxic organic waste in water, which causes severe

Electrical properties of MIS devices on CdZnTe/HgCdTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Tae-Seok; Jeoung, Y. T.; Kim, Hyun Kyu; Kim, Jae Mook; Song, Jinhan; Ann, S. Y.; Lee, Ji Y.; Kim, Young Hun; Kim, Sun-Ung; Park, Mann-Jang; Lee, S. D.; Suh, Sang-Hee

1998-10-01

In this paper, we report the capacitance-voltage (C-V) properties of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) devices on CdTe/HgCdTe by the metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and CdZnTe/HgCdTe by thermal evaporation. In MOCVD, CdTe layers are directly grown on HgCdTe using the metal organic sources of DMCd and DiPTe. HgCdTe layers are converted to n-type and the carrier concentration, ND is low 1015 cm-3 after Hg-vacancy annealing at 260 degrees Celsius. In thermal evaporation, CdZnTe passivation layers were deposited on HgCdTe surfaces after the surfaces were etched with 0.5 - 2.0% bromine in methanol solution. To investigate the electrical properties of the MIS devices, the C-V measurement is conducted at 80 K and 1 MHz. C-V curve of MIS devices on CdTe/HgCdTe by MOCVD has shown nearly flat band condition and large hysteresis, which is inferred to result from many defects in CdTe layer induced during Hg-vacancy annealing process. A negative flat band voltage (VFB approximately equals -2 V) and a small hysteresis have been observed for MIS devices on CdZnTe/HgCdTe by thermal evaporation. It is inferred that the negative flat band voltage results from residual Te4+ on the surface after etching with bromine in methanol solution.

Effects on the optical properties and conductivity of Ag-N co-doped ZnO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhenchao; Hou, Qingyu; Qu, Lingfeng

2017-01-01

Nowadays, the studies of the effects on the optical bandgap, absorption spectrum, and electrical properties of Ag-N co-doped ZnO have been extensively investigated. However, Ag and N atoms in doped systems are randomly doped, and the asymmetric structure of ZnO is yet to be explored. In this paper, the geometric structure, stability, density of states, absorption spectra and conductivity of pure and Ag-N co-doped Zn1-xAgxO1-xNx(x=0.03125, 0.0417 and 0.0625) in different orientations are calculated by using plane-wave ultrasoft pseudopotential on the basis of density functional theory with GGA+U method. Results show that the volume, equivalent total energy and formation energy of the doped system increase as the concentration of Ag-N co-doped Zn1-xAgxO1-xNx increases at the same doping mode. The doped systems also become unstable, and difficulty in doping. At the same concentration of Ag-N co-doped Zn1-xAgxO1-xNx, the systems with Ag-N along the c-axis orientation is unstable, and doping is difficult. The optical bandgap of Ag-N co-doped systems is narrower than that of the pure ZnO. At the same doping mode, the optical bandgap of the systems with Ag-N perpendicular to the c-axis orientation becomes narrow as the concentration of Ag-N co-doped Zn1-xAgxO1-xNx increases. The absorption spectra of the doped systems exhibit a red shift, and this red shift becomes increasingly significant as the concentration of Ag-N co-doped Zn1-xAgxO1-xNx increases. Under the same condition, the relative hole concentrations of the doped systems increases, the hole effective mass in valence band maximum decreases, the hole mobility decreases, the ionization energy decreases, Bohr radius increases, the conductance increases and the conductivity become better. Our results may be used as a basis for the designing and preparation of new optical and electrical materials for Ag-N co-doped ZnO applied in low temperature end of temperature difference battery.

Low-Cd CIGS solar cells made with a hybrid CdS/Zn(O,S) buffer layer

DOE PAGES

Garris, Rebekah L.; Mansfield, Lorelle M.; Egaas, Brian; ...

2016-10-27

In Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells, CdS and Zn(O,S) buffer layers were compared with a hybrid buffer layer consisting of thin CdS followed Zn(O,S). We explore the physics of this hybrid layer that combines the standard (Cd) approach with the alternative (Zn) approach in the pursuit to unlock further potential for CIGS technology. CdS buffer development has shown optimal interface properties, whereas Zn(O,S) buffer development has shown increased photocurrent. Although a totally Cd-free solar module is more marketable, the retention of a small amount of Cd can be beneficial to achieve optimum junction properties. As long as the amount of Cdmore » is reduced to less than 0.01% by weight, the presence of Cd does not violate the hazardous substance restrictions of the European Union (EU). We estimate the amount of Cd allowed in the EU for CIGS on both glass and stainless steel substrates, and we show that reducing Cd becomes increasingly important as substrate weights decrease. As a result, this hybrid buffer layer had reduced Cd content and a wider space charge region, while achieving equal or better solar cell performance than buffer layers of either CdS or Zn(O,S) alone.« less

CdS/ZnS nanocomposites: from mechanochemical synthesis to cytotoxicity issues.

PubMed

Baláž, Peter; Baláž, Matej; Dutková, Erika; Zorkovská, Anna; Kováč, Jaroslav; Hronec, Pavol; Kováč, Jaroslav; Čaplovičová, Mária; Mojžiš, Ján; Mojžišová, Gabriela; Eliyas, Alexander; Kostova, Nina G

2016-01-01

CdS/ZnS nanocomposites have been prepared by a two-step solid-state mechanochemical synthesis. CdS has been prepared from cadmium acetate and sodium sulfide precursors in the first step. The obtained cubic CdS (hawleyite, JCPDS 00-010-0454) was then mixed in the second step with the cubic ZnS (sphalerite, JCPDS 00-005-0566) synthesized mechanochemically from the analogous precursors. The crystallite sizes of the new type CdS/ZnS nanocomposite, calculated based on the XRD data, were 3-4 nm for both phases. The synthesized nanoparticles have been further characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and micro-photoluminescence (μPL) spectroscopy. The PL emission peaks in the PL spectra are attributed to the recombination of holes/electrons in the nanocomposites occurring in depth associated with Cd, Zn vacancies and S interstitials. Their photocatalytic activity was also measured. In the photocatalytic activity tests to decolorize Methyl Orange dye aqueous solution, the process is faster and its effectivity is higher when using CdS/ZnS nanocomposite, compared to single phase CdS. Very low cytotoxic activity (high viability) of the cancer cell lines (selected as models of living cells) has been evidenced for CdS/ZnS in comparison with CdS alone. This fact is in a close relationship with Cd(II) ions dissolution tested in a physiological solution. The concentration of cadmium dissolved from CdS/ZnS nanocomposites with variable Cd:Zn ratio was 2.5-5.0 μg.mL(-1), whereas the concentration for pure CdS was much higher - 53 μg.ml(-1). The presence of ZnS in the nanocrystalline composite strongly reduced the release of cadmium into the physiological solution, which simulated the environment in the human body. The obtained CdS/ZnS quantum dots can serve as labeling media and co-agents in future anti-cancer drugs, because of their potential in theranostic applications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of highly efficient antibacterial agent Ag doped ZnO nanorods: Structural, Raman and optical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jan, Tariq; Iqbal, Javed, E-mail: javed.saggu@iiu.edu.pk; Ismail, Muhammad

Here, synthesis, structural, morphological, Raman, optical properties and antibacterial activity of undoped and Ag doped ZnO nanorods by chemical co-precipitation technique have been reported. Structural analysis has revealed that Ag doping cannot deteriorate the structure of ZnO and wurtzite phase is maintained. Lattice constants are found to be decreased with the Ag doping. Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy also confirm the X-ray diffraction results. Scanning electron microscopy results have demonstrated the formation of ZnO nanorods with average diameter and length of 96 nm and 700 nm, respectively. Raman spectroscopy results suggest that the Ag doping enhances the number of defects inmore » ZnO crystal. It has been found from optical study that Ag doping results in positional shift of band edge absorption peak. This is attributed to the successful incorporation of Ag dopant into ZnO host matrix. The antibacterial activity of prepared nanorods has been determined by two different methods and compared to that of undoped ZnO nanorods. Ag doped ZnO nanorods exhibit excellent antibacterial activity as compared to that of undoped ZnO nanorods. This excellent antibacterial activity may be attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies and Zn{sup 2+} interstitial defects. Our preliminary findings suggest that Ag doped ZnO nanorods can be used externally to control the spreading of infections related with tested bacterial strains.« less

Multi-angle ZnO microstructures grown on Ag nanorods array for plasmon-enhanced near-UV-blue light emitter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pal, Anil Kumar; Bharathi Mohan, D.

2017-10-01

Metal enhanced ultraviolet light emission has been explored in ZnO/Ag hybrid structures prepared by hydrothermal growth of multi-angled ZnO nanorods on slanted Ag nanorods array fabricated by the thermal evaporation technique. Slanted Ag nanorods are realized to be the stacking of non-spherical Ag nanoparticles, resulting in asymmetric surface plasmon resonance spectra. The surface roughness of Ag nanorod array films significantly influences the growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods, leading to the formation of multi-angled ZnO microflowers. ZnO/Ag hybrid structures facilitate the interfacial charge transfer from Ag to ZnO with the realization of negative shift in binding energy of Ag 3d orbitals by ˜0.8 eV. These high quality ZnO nanorods in ZnO/Ag hybrid nanostructures exhibit strong ultraviolet emission in the 383-396 nm region without broad deep level emission, which can be explained by a suitable band diagram. The metal enhanced photoluminescence is witnessed mainly due to interfacial charge transfer with its dependence on surface roughness of bottom layer Ag nanorods, number density of ZnO nanorods and diversity in the interfacial area between Ag and ZnO nanorods. The existence of strong ultraviolet light with minor blue light emission and appearance of CIE shade in strong violet-blue region by ZnO/Ag hybrid structures depict exciting possibilities towards near UV-blue light emitting devices.

Multi-angle ZnO microstructures grown on Ag nanorods array for plasmon-enhanced near-UV-blue light emitter.

PubMed

Pal, Anil Kumar; Mohan, D Bharathi

2017-10-13

Metal enhanced ultraviolet light emission has been explored in ZnO/Ag hybrid structures prepared by hydrothermal growth of multi-angled ZnO nanorods on slanted Ag nanorods array fabricated by the thermal evaporation technique. Slanted Ag nanorods are realized to be the stacking of non-spherical Ag nanoparticles, resulting in asymmetric surface plasmon resonance spectra. The surface roughness of Ag nanorod array films significantly influences the growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods, leading to the formation of multi-angled ZnO microflowers. ZnO/Ag hybrid structures facilitate the interfacial charge transfer from Ag to ZnO with the realization of negative shift in binding energy of Ag 3d orbitals by ∼0.8 eV. These high quality ZnO nanorods in ZnO/Ag hybrid nanostructures exhibit strong ultraviolet emission in the 383-396 nm region without broad deep level emission, which can be explained by a suitable band diagram. The metal enhanced photoluminescence is witnessed mainly due to interfacial charge transfer with its dependence on surface roughness of bottom layer Ag nanorods, number density of ZnO nanorods and diversity in the interfacial area between Ag and ZnO nanorods. The existence of strong ultraviolet light with minor blue light emission and appearance of CIE shade in strong violet-blue region by ZnO/Ag hybrid structures depict exciting possibilities towards near UV-blue light emitting devices.

Photodegradation of Acid Violet 7 with AgBr-ZnO under highly alkaline conditions.

PubMed

Krishnakumar, B; Swaminathan, M

2012-12-01

The photocatalytic activity of AgBr-ZnO was investigated for the degradation of Acid Violet 7 (AV 7) in aqueous solution using UV-A light. AgBr-ZnO is found to be more efficient than commercial ZnO and prepared ZnO at pH 12 for the mineralization of AV 7. The effects of operational parameters such as the amount of photocatalyst, dye concentration, initial pH on photo mineralization have been analyzed. Expect oxone, other oxidants decrease the degradation efficiency. Addition of metal ions and anions decrease the degradation efficiency of AgBr-ZnO significantly. The mineralization of AV 7 has also been confirmed by COD measurements. The mechanism of degradation by AgBr-ZnO is proposed to explain its higher activity under UV light. The catalyst is found to be reusable. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tuning the emission of ZnO nanorods based light emitting diodes using Ag doping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Echresh, Ahmad; Chey, Chan Oeurn; Shoushtari, Morteza Zargar; Nur, Omer; Willander, Magnus

2014-11-01

We have fabricated, characterized, and compared ZnO nanorods/p-GaN and n-Zn0.94Ag0.06O nanorods/p-GaN light emitting diodes (LEDs). Current-voltage measurement showed an obvious rectifying behaviour of both LEDs. A reduction of the optical band gap of the Zn0.94Ag0.06O nanorods compared to pure ZnO nanorods was observed. This reduction leads to decrease the valence band offset at n-Zn0.94Ag0.06O nanorods/p-GaN interface compared to n-ZnO nanorods/p-GaN heterojunction. Consequently, this reduction leads to increase the hole injection from the GaN to the ZnO. From electroluminescence measurement, white light was observed for the n-Zn0.94Ag0.06O nanorods/p-GaN heterojunction LEDs under forward bias, while for the reverse bias, blue light was observed. While for the n-ZnO nanorods/p-GaN blue light dominated the emission in both forward and reverse biases. Further, the LEDs exhibited a high sensitivity in responding to UV illumination. The results presented here indicate that doping ZnO nanorods might pave the way to tune the light emission from n-ZnO/p-GaN LEDs.

CdZnTe substrate impurities and their effects on liquid phase epitaxy HgCdTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tower, J. P.; Tobin, S. P.; Kestigian, M.; Norton, P. W.; Bollong, A. B.; Schaake, H. F.; Ard, C. K.

1995-05-01

Impurity levels were tracked through the stages of substrate and liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) layer processing to identify sources of elements which degrade infrared photodetector performance. Chemical analysis by glow discharge mass spectrometry and Zeeman corrected graphite furnace atomic absorption effectively showed the levels of impurities introduced into CdZnTe substrate material from the raw materials and the crystal growth processes. A new purification process (in situ distillation zone refining) for raw materials was developed, resulting in improved CdZnTe substrate purity. Substrate copper contamination was found to degrade the LPE layer and device electrical properties, in the case of lightly doped HgCdTe. Anomalous HgCdTe carrier type conversion was correlated to certain CdZnTe and CdTe substrate ingots.

The Effect of (Ag, Ni, Zn)-Addition on the Thermoelectric Properties of Copper Aluminate

PubMed Central

Yanagiya, Shun-ichi; Van Nong, Ngo; Xu, Jianxiao; Pryds, Nini

2010-01-01

Polycrystalline bulk copper aluminate Cu1-x-yAgxByAlO2 with B = Ni or Zn were prepared by spark plasma sintering and subsequent thermal treatment. The influence of partial substitution of Ag, Ni and Zn for Cu-sites in CuAlO2 on the high temperature thermoelectric properties has been studied. The addition of Ag and Zn was found to enhance the formation of CuAlO2 phase and to increase the electrical conductivity. The addition of Ag or Ag and Ni on the other hand decreases the electrical conductivity. The highest power factor of 1.26 × 10-4 W/mK2 was obtained for the addition of Ag and Zn at 1,060 K, indicating a significant improvement compared with the non-doped CuAlO2 sample.

Study on swift heavy ions induced modifications of Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, S. K.; Singhal, R.; Siva Kumar, V. V.

2017-03-01

In the present work, swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation induced modifications in structural and optical properties of Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin films have been investigated. Ag-ZnO nanocomposite (NCs) thin films were synthesized by RF magnetron sputtering technique and irradiated with 100 MeV Ag7+ ions at three different fluences 3 × 1012, 1 × 1013 and 3 × 1013 ions/cm2. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry revealed Ag concentration to be ∼8.0 at.%, and measured thickness of the films was ∼55 nm. Structural properties of pristine and irradiated films have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction analysis and found that variation in crystallite size of the film with ion irradiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicates the formation of Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin film with presence of Ag, Zn and O elements. Oxidation state of Ag and Zn also estimated by XPS analysis. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag nanoparticle has appeared at ∼475 nm in the pristine thin film, which is blue shifted by ∼30 nm in film irradiated at fluence of 3 × 1012 ions/cm2 and completely disappeared in film irradiated at higher fluences, 1 × 1013 and 3 × 1013 ions/cm2. A marginal change in the optical band gap of Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin film is also found with increasing ion fluence. Surface morphology of pristine and irradiated films have been studied using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Raman and Photo-luminance (PL) spectra of nanocomposite thin films have been investigated to understand the ion induced modifications such as lattice defects and disordering in the nanocomposite thin film.

Enriching rice with Zn and Fe while minimizing Cd risk

PubMed Central

Slamet-Loedin, Inez H.; Johnson-Beebout, Sarah E.; Impa, Somayanda; Tsakirpaloglou, Nikolaos

2015-01-01

Enriching iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content in rice grains, while minimizing cadmium (Cd) levels, is important for human health and nutrition. Natural genetic variation in rice grain Zn enables Zn-biofortification through conventional breeding, but limited natural Fe variation has led to a need for genetic modification approaches, including over-expressing genes responsible for Fe storage, chelators, and transporters. Generally, Cd uptake and allocation is associated with divalent metal cations (including Fe and Zn) transporters, but the details of this process are still unknown in rice. In addition to genetic variation, metal uptake is sometimes limited by its bioavailability in the soil. The availability of Fe, Zn, and Cd for plant uptake varies widely depending on soil redox potential. The typical practice of flooding rice increases Fe while decreasing Zn and Cd availability. On the other hand, moderate soil drying improves Zn uptake but also increases Cd and decreases Fe uptake. Use of Zn- or Fe-containing fertilizers complements breeding efforts by providing sufficient metals for plant uptake. In addition, the timing of nitrogen fertilization has also been shown to affect metal accumulation in grains. The purpose of this mini-review is to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize strategies for improving the nutritional value and safety of rice. PMID:25814994

Photorefractivity in a Titanium Doped ZnCdTe Crystal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davis, M.; Collins, L.; Dyer, K.; Tong, J.; Ueda, A.; Chen, H.; Chen, K.-T.; Burger, A.; Pan, Z.; Morgan, S. H.

1997-01-01

Single crystals of Zn(.04)Cd(.96)Te was grown by horizontal physical vapor transport (PVT) method and doped by annealing with TiTe2 powder at 600 C for six days. Photorefractive two-beam coupling, along with photoluminescence and absorption spectroscopy, were used to characterize the ZnCdTe:Ti crystal. At 1.32 micrometers, the photorefractive gain has been measured as a function of the grating period. A gain of about 0.16/cm was obtained at an intensity of about 0.1 W/sq cm. The results of this titanium doped ZnCdTe crystal are compared to that of vanadium-doped CdTe crystals reported previously.

Critical island size for Ag thin film growth on ZnO (0 0 0 1 bar)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lloyd, Adam L.; Smith, Roger; Kenny, Steven D.

2017-02-01

Island growth of Ag on ZnO is investigated with the development of a new technique to approximate critical island sizes. Ag is shown to attach in one of three highly symmetric sites on the ZnO surface or initial monolayers of grown Ag. Due to this, a lattice based adaptive kinetic Monte Carlo (LatAKMC) method is used to investigate initial growth phases. As island formation is commonly reported in the literature, the critical island sizes of Ag islands on a perfect polar ZnO surface and a first monolayer of grown Ag on the ZnO surface are considered. A mean rate approach is used to calculate the average time for an Ag ad-atom to drop off an island and this is then compared to deposition rates on the same island. Results suggest that Ag on ZnO (0 0 0 1 bar) will exhibit Stranski-Krastanov (layer plus island) growth.

Histidine pairing at the metal transport site of mammalian ZnT transporters controls Zn2+ over Cd2+ selectivity.

PubMed

Hoch, Eitan; Lin, Wei; Chai, Jin; Hershfinkel, Michal; Fu, Dax; Sekler, Israel

2012-05-08

Zinc and cadmium are similar metal ions, but though Zn(2+) is an essential nutrient, Cd(2+) is a toxic and common pollutant linked to multiple disorders. Faster body turnover and ubiquitous distribution of Zn(2+) vs. Cd(2+) suggest that a mammalian metal transporter distinguishes between these metal ions. We show that the mammalian metal transporters, ZnTs, mediate cytosolic and vesicular Zn(2+) transport, but reject Cd(2+), thus constituting the first mammalian metal transporter with a refined selectivity against Cd(2+). Remarkably, the bacterial ZnT ortholog, YiiP, does not discriminate between Zn(2+) and Cd(2+). A phylogenetic comparison between the tetrahedral metal transport motif of YiiP and ZnTs identifies a histidine at the mammalian site that is critical for metal selectivity. Residue swapping at this position abolished metal selectivity of ZnTs, and fully reconstituted selective Zn(2+) transport of YiiP. Finally, we show that metal selectivity evolves through a reduction in binding but not the translocation of Cd(2+) by the transporter. Thus, our results identify a unique class of mammalian transporters and the structural motif required to discriminate between Zn(2+) and Cd(2+), and show that metal selectivity is tuned by a coordination-based mechanism that raises the thermodynamic barrier to Cd(2+) binding.

Histidine pairing at the metal transport site of mammalian ZnT transporters controls Zn2+ over Cd2+ selectivity

PubMed Central

Hoch, Eitan; Lin, Wei; Chai, Jin; Hershfinkel, Michal; Fu, Dax; Sekler, Israel

2012-01-01

Zinc and cadmium are similar metal ions, but though Zn2+ is an essential nutrient, Cd2+ is a toxic and common pollutant linked to multiple disorders. Faster body turnover and ubiquitous distribution of Zn2+ vs. Cd2+ suggest that a mammalian metal transporter distinguishes between these metal ions. We show that the mammalian metal transporters, ZnTs, mediate cytosolic and vesicular Zn2+ transport, but reject Cd2+, thus constituting the first mammalian metal transporter with a refined selectivity against Cd2+. Remarkably, the bacterial ZnT ortholog, YiiP, does not discriminate between Zn2+ and Cd2+. A phylogenetic comparison between the tetrahedral metal transport motif of YiiP and ZnTs identifies a histidine at the mammalian site that is critical for metal selectivity. Residue swapping at this position abolished metal selectivity of ZnTs, and fully reconstituted selective Zn2+ transport of YiiP. Finally, we show that metal selectivity evolves through a reduction in binding but not the translocation of Cd2+ by the transporter. Thus, our results identify a unique class of mammalian transporters and the structural motif required to discriminate between Zn2+ and Cd2+, and show that metal selectivity is tuned by a coordination-based mechanism that raises the thermodynamic barrier to Cd2+ binding. PMID:22529353

Evaluation of ZnO:Al as a contact material to CdZnTe for radiation detector applications (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Utpal N.; Camarda, Giuseppe S.; Cui, Yonggang; Gul, Rubi; Hossain, Anwar; Yang, Ge; James, Ralph B.; Pradhan, Aswini K.; Mundle, Rajeh

2016-09-01

Aluminum (Al) doped ZnO with very high Al concentration acts as metal regarding its electrical conductivity. ZnO offers many advantages over the commonly-known metals being used today as electrode materials for nuclear detector fabrication. Often, the common metals show poor adhesion to CdZnTe or CdTe surfaces and have a tendency to peel off. In addition, there is a large mismatch of the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) between the metals and underlying CdZnTe, which is one of the reasons for mechanical degradation of the contact. In contrast ZnO has a close match of the CTE with CdZnTe and possesses 8-20 times higher hardness than the commonly-used metals. In this presentation, we will explore and discuss the properties of CdZnTe detectors with ZnO:Al contacts.

A suitable deposition method of CdS for high performance CdS-sensitized ZnO electrodes: Sequential chemical bath deposition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chen, Haining; Li, Weiping; Liu, Huicong

2010-07-15

A suitable deposition method of CdS is necessary for the high performance CdS-sensitized ZnO electrodes. In this paper, chemical bath deposition (CBD) and sequential chemical bath deposition (S-CBD) methods were used to deposit CdS on ZnO mesoporous films for ZnO/CdS electrodes. The analysis results of XRD patterns and UV-vis spectroscopy indicated that CBD deposition method leaded to the dissolving of ZnO mesoporous films in deposition solution and thickness reduction of ZnO/CdS electrodes. Absorption in visible region by the ZnO/CdS electrodes with CdS deposition by S-CBD was enhanced as deposition cycles increased due to the stability of ZnO mesoporous films inmore » the S-CBD deposition solutions. The results of photocurrent-voltage (I-V) measurement showed that the performance of ZnO/CdS electrodes with CdS deposition by CBD first increased and then decreased as deposition time increased, and the greatest short-circuit current (J{sub sc}) was obtained at the deposition time of 4 min. The performance of ZnO/CdS electrodes with CdS deposition by S-CBD increased as deposition cycles increased, and both open-circuit voltage (V{sub oc}) and J{sub sc} were greater than those electrodes with CdS deposition by CBD when the deposition cycles of S-CBD were 10 or greater. These results indicated that S-CBD is a more suitable method for high performance ZnO/CdS electrodes. (author)« less

Differential effects of β-mercaptoethanol on CdSe/ZnS and InP/ZnS quantum dots.

PubMed

Georgin, Marcel; Carlini, Lina; Cooper, Daniel; Bradforth, Stephen E; Nadeau, Jay L

2013-07-07

The small thiol β-mercaptoethanol (BME) has been used as an anti-blinking reagent for CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs), although its effects on QD photoluminescence are complex. It acts as an antioxidant as well as a hole scavenger on both CdSe and CdTe, which leads to changes in emission intensity and lifetime that vary qualitatively according to BME concentration, time of incubation, and pH of the solution. Because the band edge energies of InP/ZnS are shifted from those of CdTe and CdSe, it may be expected that thiols including BME might be unable to trap holes from these QDs. In this study, we use steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy with physical fitting models combined with blinking analysis to compare the effects of different concentrations of BME on CdSe/ZnS vs. InP/ZnS QDs over time. We also find excellent correspondence between simple physical model parameters and blinking off times, a finding that will be useful for all blinking studies involving semiconductor nanoparticles. BME alters blinking in InP/ZnS QDs with a single ZnS shell, but not those with double thickness shells. The effects are similar to those seen with CdSe/ZnS, despite very different effects of BME on steady-state spectra, and highly pH-dependent.

Tri-functional Fe2O3-encased Ag-doped ZnO nanoframework: magnetically retrievable antimicrobial photocatalyst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karunakaran, Chockalingam; Vinayagamoorthy, Pazhamalai

2016-11-01

Fe2O3-encased ZnO nanoframework was obtained by hydrothermal method and was doped with Ag through photoreduction process. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, selected area electron diffractometry, x-ray diffractometry and Raman spectroscopy were employed for the structural characterization of the synthesized material. While the charge transfer resistance of the prepared nanomaterial is larger than those of Fe2O3 and ZnO the coercivity of the nanocomposite is less than that of hydrothermally obtained Fe2O3 nanostructures. Although Fe2O3/Ag-ZnO exhibits weak visible light absorption its band gap energy does not differ from that of ZnO. The photoluminescence of the fabricated nanoframework is similar to that of ZnO. The radiative recombination of charge carriers is slightly slower in Fe2O3/Ag-ZnO than in ZnO. The synthesized Fe2O3-encased Ag-doped ZnO, under UV A light, exhibits sustainable photocatalytic activity to degrade dye and is magnetically recoverable. Also, the Fe2O3/Ag-ZnO nanocomposite disinfects bacteria effectively in absence of direct illumination.

Dependence of nonlinear optical properties of Ag2S@ZnS core-shells on Zinc precursor and capping agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dehghanipour, M.; Khanzadeh, M.; Karimipour, M.; Molaei, M.

2018-03-01

In this research, four different types of Ag2S@ZnS core-shells were synthesized and their nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were investigated using a Z-scan technique by a 532 nm laser diode. Here, Ag2S and ZnS nanoparticles were also synthesized and their NLO properties were compared with Ag2S@ZnS core-shells. It was observed that the NLO properties of Ag2S@ZnS quantum dots significantly increased by increasing the values of Zn(NO3)2 and thioglycolic acid (TGA). It was also observed that the NLO properties of Ag2S@ZnS core-shells for 0.1 g of Zn(NO3)2 and 7000 μl TGA is higher than sole Ag2S and ZnS nanoparticles. In open aperture Z-scan curve of ZnS sample, a saturable absorption peak was observed and this peak was seen also in type of Ag2S@ZnS nanoparticles which the value of Zn(NO3)2 much more.

[Effect of different organic fertilizers on bioavailability of soil Cd and Zn].

PubMed

Xie, Yun-he; Ji, Xiong-hui; Wu, Jia-mei; Huang, Juan; Guan, Di; Zhu, Jian

2015-03-01

The active effect of soil Cd and Zn and their interaction was studied in typical paddy field in south China by monitoring the contents of Cd and Zn in soil and rice in rice fields applied with pig manure, chicken manure or rice straw for 4 years continuously. The results showed that applying pig manure, chicken manure or rice straw had no significant impact on the soil total Cd content, soil available Cd content and soil Cd activity, but tended to increase the soil total Cd content and increased the soil total Zn content, soil available Zn content and Zn activity significantly. Applications of pig manure, chicken manure and rice straw all reduced the Cd content of brown rice, in order of pig manure > chicken manure > rice straw. The Cd contents of brown rice, stem and leaf in the treatment applied with pig manure were lower than in the control by 37.5%, 44.0% and 36.4%, respectively; the Cd contents of brown rice, stem and leaf in the treatment applied with chicken manure were lower than in the control by 22.5%, 33.8%, and 22.7%, respectively; the Cd content of brown rice in the treatment applied with rice straw was lower than in the control by 7.5% but its contents in stem and leaf increased by 8.2% and 22.7% , respectively. The reduction in the brown rice Cd content was mainly due to the reduction of Cd enrichment from soil to brown rice after application of pig or chicken manure, but mainly due to the reduction of Cd transportation from stem to brown rice after straw application. Applications of pig manure, chicken manure and rice straw increased Zn contents in rice stem by 53.4%, 53.4% and 13.9%, respectively, but all had no significant effect on brown rice and leaf' s Zn contents. Zn and Cd had the significant antagonistic effects in the soil and rice stem. The increase of Zn content in soil and rice stem inhibited the adsorption and accumulation of Cd in the brown rice, stem and leaf significantly, and with the increase of the proportion of Zn/Cd, the

Doping Ag in ZnO Nanorods to Improve the Performance of Related Enzymatic Glucose Sensors.

PubMed

Zhou, Fan; Jing, Weixuan; Liu, Pengcheng; Han, Dejun; Jiang, Zhuangde; Wei, Zhengying

2017-09-27

In this paper, the performance of a zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod-based enzymatic glucose sensor was enhanced with silver (Ag)-doped ZnO (ZnO-Ag) nanorods. The effect of the doped Ag on the surface morphologies, wettability, and electron transfer capability of the ZnO-Ag nanorods, as well as the catalytic character of glucose oxidase (GOx) and the performance of the glucose sensor was investigated. The results indicate that the doped Ag slightly weakens the surface roughness and hydrophilicity of the ZnO-Ag nanorods, but remarkably increases their electron transfer ability and enhances the catalytic character of GOx. Consequently, the combined effects of the above influencing factors lead to a notable improvement of the performance of the glucose sensor, that is, the sensitivity increases and the detection limit decreases. The optimal amount of the doped Ag is determined to be 2 mM, and the corresponding glucose sensor exhibits a sensitivity of 3.85 μA/(mM·cm²), detection limit of 1.5 μM, linear range of 1.5 × 10 -3 -6.5 mM, and Michaelis-Menten constant of 3.87 mM. Moreover, the glucose sensor shows excellent selectivity to urea, ascorbic acid, and uric acid, in addition to displaying good storage stability. These results demonstrate that ZnO-Ag nanorods are promising matrix materials for the construction of other enzymatic biosensors.

Doping Ag in ZnO Nanorods to Improve the Performance of Related Enzymatic Glucose Sensors

PubMed Central

Zhou, Fan; Jing, Weixuan; Liu, Pengcheng; Han, Dejun; Jiang, Zhuangde; Wei, Zhengying

2017-01-01

In this paper, the performance of a zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod-based enzymatic glucose sensor was enhanced with silver (Ag)-doped ZnO (ZnO-Ag) nanorods. The effect of the doped Ag on the surface morphologies, wettability, and electron transfer capability of the ZnO-Ag nanorods, as well as the catalytic character of glucose oxidase (GOx) and the performance of the glucose sensor was investigated. The results indicate that the doped Ag slightly weakens the surface roughness and hydrophilicity of the ZnO-Ag nanorods, but remarkably increases their electron transfer ability and enhances the catalytic character of GOx. Consequently, the combined effects of the above influencing factors lead to a notable improvement of the performance of the glucose sensor, that is, the sensitivity increases and the detection limit decreases. The optimal amount of the doped Ag is determined to be 2 mM, and the corresponding glucose sensor exhibits a sensitivity of 3.85 μA/(mM·cm2), detection limit of 1.5 μM, linear range of 1.5 × 10−3–6.5 mM, and Michaelis-Menten constant of 3.87 mM. Moreover, the glucose sensor shows excellent selectivity to urea, ascorbic acid, and uric acid, in addition to displaying good storage stability. These results demonstrate that ZnO-Ag nanorods are promising matrix materials for the construction of other enzymatic biosensors. PMID:28953217

CdTe quantum-dot-modified ZnO nanowire heterostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahi, Kanchana; Singh, R. S.; Singh, Ajaya Kumar; Aleksandrova, Mariya; Khenata, Rabah

2018-03-01

The effect of CdTe quantum-dot (QD) decoration on the photoluminescence (PL) behaviour of ZnO nanowire (NW) array is presented in the present work. Highly crystalline and vertically 40-50 nm diameter range and 1 µm in length aligned ZnO NWs are synthesized using low-cost method. The crystallinity and morphology of the NWs are studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction methods.Optical properties of the nanowires are studied using photo-response and PL spectroscopy. CdTe QDs are successfully synthesized on ZnO nanowire surface by dip-coating method. ZnO NWs are sensitized with CdTe QDs characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and PL spectroscopy. The highly quenched PL intensity indicates the charge transfer at interface between CdTe QDs and ZnO NWs and is due to the formation of type-II heterostructure between QDs and NWs. Photo-response behaviour of heterostructure of the film is also been incorporated in the present work.

``Flash'' synthesis of ``giant'' Mn-doped CdS/ZnSe/ZnS nanocrystals with ZnSe layer as hole quantum-well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Ruilin; Zhang, Jiayu

Usually, exciton-Mn energy transfer in Mn-doped CdS/ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) can readily outcompete the exciton trapping by an order of magnitude. However, with the accumulation of non-radiative defects in the giant shell during the rapid growth of the thick shell (up to ~20 monolayers in no more than 10 minutes), the photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of this kind of ``giant'' NCs is significantly reduced by the accumulation of non-radiative defects during the rapid growth of thick shell. That is because the exciton-Mn energy transfer in Mn-doped CdS/ZnS NCs is significantly inhibited by the hole trapping as the major competing process, resulting from the insufficient hole-confinement in CdS/ZnS NCs. Accordingly ``flash'' synthesis of giant Mn-doped CdS/ZnSe/ZnS NCs with ZnSe layer as hole quantum-well is developed to suppress the inhibition. Meanwhile Mn2+ PL peak changes profoundly from ~620 nm to ~540 nm after addition of ZnSe layer. Studies are under the way to explore the relevant mechanisms.

Photocatalytic degradation of lignin on synthesized Ag-AgCl/ZnO nanorods under solar light and preliminary trials for methane fermentation.

PubMed

Li, Huifang; Lei, Zhongfang; Liu, Chunguang; Zhang, Zhenya; Lu, Baowang

2015-01-01

New photocatalysts, Ag-AgCl/ZnO nanorods, were successfully synthesized in this study by using microwave assisted chemical precipitation and deposition-precipitation-photoreduction methods. The optimal preparation condition was determined as pH 9 in distilled water and 40min for UV light photoreduction of Ag (i.e. Ag40-AgCl/ZnO) by degradation of methyl orange. This work investigated the feasibility of using Ag40-AgCl/ZnO to degrade lignin under natural solar light and then subsequent methane production with influencing factors like solution pH, dosage of catalyst and initial lignin concentration being considered. OH radicals were found to play the most important role in the photocatalytic process, and the new prepared catalyst possessed stable photocatalytic activity after 7 cycles' utilization. During the subsequent biogasification, the degraded lignin obtained from 120min photocatalysis yielded 184ml methane and 325ml biogas for per gram of removed total organic carbon, increased by 10.9% and 23.1%, respectively compared to the control. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Aqueous synthesis of Ag and Mn co-doped In2S3/ZnS quantum dots with tunable emission for dual-modal targeted imaging.

PubMed

Lai, Pei-Yu; Huang, Chih-Ching; Chou, Tzung-Han; Ou, Keng-Liang; Chang, Jia-Yaw

2017-03-01

S@HA did not cause obvious toxicity to zebrafish embryos. In vitro targeted cell luminescence and magnetic resonance imaging showed that AgMn:In 2 S 3 /ZnS conjugated to hyaluronic acid was selectively and efficiently internalized in CD44-expressing tumor cells, confirming that the resultant QDs could function as dual-modal imaging probes for accurate diagnosis. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synergistic mechanism of Ag+-Zn2+ in anti-bacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and its application against dentin infection.

PubMed

Fan, Wei; Sun, Qing; Li, Yanyun; Tay, Franklin R; Fan, Bing

2018-01-31

Ag + and Zn 2+ have already been used in combinations to obtain both enhanced antibacterial effect and low cytotoxicity. Despite this, it is still unclear how the Zn 2+ co-works with Ag + in the synergistic antibacterial activity. The main purposes of this study were to investigate the co-work pattern and optimum ratio between Ag + and Zn 2+ in their synergistic antibacterial activity against E. faecalis, the possible mechanisms behind this synergy and the primary application of optimum Ag + -Zn 2+ co-work pattern against the E. faecalis biofilm on dentin. A serial of Ag + -Zn 2+ atomic combination ratios were tested on both planktonic and biofilm-resident E. faecalis on dentin, their antibacterial efficiency was calculated and optimum ratio determined. And the cytotoxicity of various Ag + -Zn 2+ atomic ratios was tested on MC3T3-E1 Cells. The role of Zn 2+ in Ag + -Zn 2+ co-work was evaluated using a Zn 2+ pretreatment study and membrane potential-permeability measurement. The results showed that the synergistically promoted antibacterial effect of Ag + -Zn 2+ combinations was Zn 2+ amount-dependent with the 1:9 and 1:12 Ag + -Zn 2+ atomic ratios showing the most powerful ability against both planktonic and biofilm-resident E. faecalis. This co-work could likely be attributed to the depolarization of E. faecalis cell membrane by the addition of Zn 2+ . The cytotoxicity of the Ag + -Zn 2+ atomic ratios of 1:9 and 1:12 was much lower than 2% chlorhexidine. The Ag + -Zn 2+ atomic ratios of 1:9 and 1:12 demonstrated similar strong ability against E. faecalis biofilm on dentin but much lower cytotoxicity than 2% chlorhexidine. New medications containing optimum Ag + -Zn 2+ atomic ratios higher than 1:6, such as 1:9 or 1:12, could be developed against E. faecalis infection in root canals of teeth or any other parts of human body.

Aligned hierarchical Ag/ZnO nano-heterostructure arrays via electrohydrodynamic nanowire template for enhanced gas-sensing properties.

PubMed

Yin, Zhouping; Wang, Xiaomei; Sun, Fazhe; Tong, Xiaohu; Zhu, Chen; Lv, Qiying; Ye, Dong; Wang, Shuai; Luo, Wei; Huang, YongAn

2017-09-22

Gas sensing performance can be improved significantly by the increase in both the effective gas exposure area and the surface reactivitiy of ZnO nanorods. Here, we propose aligned hierarchical Ag/ZnO nano-heterostructure arrays (h-Ag/ZnO-NAs) via electrohydrodynamic nanowire template, together with a subsequent hydrothermal synthesis and photoreduction reaction. The h-Ag/ZnO-NAs scatter at top for higher specific surface areas with the air, simultaneously contact at root for the electrical conduction. Besides, the ZnO nanorods are uniformly coated with dispersed Ag nanoparticles, resulting in a tremendous enhancement of the surface reactivity. Compared with pure ZnO, such h-Ag/ZnO-NAs exhibit lower electrical resistance and faster responses. Moreover, they demonstrate enhanced NO 2 gas sensing properties. Self-assembly via electrohydrodynamic nanowire template paves a new way for the preparation of high performance gas sensors.

Ag-NPs embedded in two novel Zn3/Zn5-cluster-based metal-organic frameworks for catalytic reduction of 2/3/4-nitrophenol.

PubMed

Wu, Xue-Qian; Huang, Dan-Dan; Zhou, Zhi-Hang; Dong, Wen-Wen; Wu, Ya-Pan; Zhao, Jun; Li, Dong-Sheng; Zhang, Qichun; Bu, Xianhui

2017-02-21

By utilizing symmetrical pentacarboxylate ligands, 3,5-di(2',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid (H 5 L1) and 3,5-di(2',4'-dicarboxylphenyl)benzoic acid (H 5 L2), two novel porous Zn-MOFs, [Zn 5 (μ 3 -H 2 O) 2 (L1) 2 ]·3DMA·4H 2 O (CTGU-3) and [Zn 3 (μ 3 -OH)L2(H 2 O) 3 ]·H 2 O (CTGU-4) have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. CTGU-3 and CTGU-4 exhibit 3D microporous frameworks with flu and dia topologies and possess unique secondary building units [Zn 5 (μ 3 -H 2 O) 2 (RCO 2 ) 6 ] and [Zn 3 (μ 3 -OH)(RCO 2 ) 3 ], respectively. Such porous systems create a unique space or surface to accommodate Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs), which could efficiently prevent Ag NPs from aggregation and leaching. In this work, two new Ag@Zn-MOF composites, denoted as Ag@CTGU, have been successfully fabricated through solution infiltration, for the reduction of nitrophenol. Compared with CTGU-4, CTGU-3 shows enhanced catalytic efficiency toward the reaction when it is used as a catalyst support of Ag NPs. Moreover, gas sorption and luminescence properties of two compounds were also investigated.

Optical properties of ordered ZnO/Ag thin films on polystyrene spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xiu; Chen, Xiuyan; Xin, Zhiqing; Li, Luhai; Xu, Yanfang

2017-08-01

A thorough research of the optical properties of ZnO/Ag structures sputtered by RF on PS colloidal crystal molds with different diameters is reported. The influences of the period of the substrates on the performance of ZnO thin films were studied. The results of scanning electron microscopic, X-ray diffraction patterns and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy indicated that the ZnO/Ag thin films were well-covering on PS colloidal crystal molds. The diameter of the polystyrene particles significantly influenced the PL spectrum intensity of ZnO/Ag by affecting the interferences of light. After adding PS colloidal crystal molds with different diameters, all the samples show two luminescent regions, namely a strong, narrow UV emission peak and a wide, weak visible emission band. However, the signal of UV emission increases more significantly. In particular, the maximum enhancement occurs when the diameter is 300 nm. This work proposes an effective way to improve ZnO light emission based on a simple, rapid and cost effective method to fabricate ordered periodic substrates by preparing single layer polystyrene microspheres masks.

CdZnTe Background Measurements at Balloon Altitudes with PoRTIA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parsons, A.; Barthelmy, S.; Bartlett, L.; Gehrels, N.; Naya, J.; Stahle, C. M.; Tueller, J.; Teegarden, B.

2003-01-01

Measurements of the CdZnTe internal background at balloon altitudes are essential to determine which physical processes make the most important background contributions. We present results from CdZnTe background measurements made by PoRTIA, a small CdZnTe balloon instrument that was flown three times in three different shielding configurations. PoRTIA was passively shielded during its first flight from Palestine, Texas and actively shielded as a piggyback instrument on the GRIS balloon experiment during its second and third flights from Alice Springs, Australia, using the thick GRIS Nal anticoincidence shield. A significant CdZnTe background reduction was achieved during the third flight with PoRTIA placed completely inside the GRIS shield and blocking crystal, and thus completely surrounded by 15 cm of Nal. A unique balloon altitude background data set is provided by CdZnTe and Ge detectors simultaneously surrounded by the same thick anticoincidence shield; the presence of a single coxial Ge detector inside the shield next to PoRTIA allowed a measurement of the ambient neutron flux inside the shield throughout the flight. These neutrons interact with the detector material to produce isomeric states of the Cd, Zn and Te nuclei that radiatively decay; calculations are presented that indicate that these decays may explain most of the fully shielded CdZnTe background.

ZnO/Sn:In2O3 and ZnO/CdTe band offsets for extremely thin absorber photovoltaics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaspar, T. C.; Droubay, T.; Jaffe, J. E.

2011-12-01

Band alignments were measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for thin films of ZnO on polycrystalline Sn:In2O3 (ITO) and single crystal CdTe. Hybrid density functional theory calculations of epitaxial zinc blende ZnO(001) on CdTe(001) were performed to compare with experiment. A conduction band (CB) offset of -0.6 eV was measured for ZnO/ITO, which is larger than desired for efficient electron injection. For ZnO/CdTe, the experimental conduction band offset of 0.25 eV is smaller than the calculated value of 0.67 eV, possibly due to the TeOx layer at the ZnO/CdTe interface. The measured conduction band offset for ZnO/CdTe is favorable for photovoltaic devices.

Classification of Broken Hill-Type Pb-Zn-Ag Deposits: A Refinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spry, P. G.; Teale, G. S.; Steadman, J. A.

2009-05-01

Broken Hill Hill-type Pb-Zn-Ag (BHT) deposits constitute some of the largest ore deposits in the world. The Broken Hill deposit is the largest accumulation of Pb, Zn, and Ag on Earth and the Cannington deposit is currently the largest silver deposit. Characteristic features of BHT deposits include: 1. high Pb+Zn+Ag values with Pb > Zn; 2. Metamorphism to amphibolite-granulite facies; 3. Paleo-to Mesoprotoerozoic clastic metasedimentary host rocks; 4. Sulfides that are spatially associated with bimodal (felsic and mafic) volcanic rocks, and stratabound gahnite- and garnet-bearing rocks and iron formations, 5. Stacked orebodies with characteristic Pb:Zn:Ag ratios and skarn-like Fe-Mn-Ca-F gangue assemblages, and the presence of Cu, Au, Bi, As, and Sb; and 6. Sulfur-poor assemblages. Broken Hill (Australia) has a prominent footwall feeder zone whereas other BHT deposits have less obvious alteration zones (footwall garnet spotting and stratabound alteration haloes). Deposits previously regarded in the literature as BHT deposits are Broken Hill, Cannington, Oonagalabie, Menninie Dam, and Pegmont (Australia), Broken Hill, Swartberg, Big Syncline, and Gamsberg (South Africa), Zinkgruvan (Sweden), Sullivan, Cottonbelt, and Foster River (Canada), and Boquira (Brazil). Of these deposits, only the Broken Hill (Australia, South Africa), Pinnacles, Cannington, Pegmont, and Swartberg deposits are BHT deposits. Another BHT deposit includes the Green Parrot deposit, Jervois Ranges (Northern Territory). The Foster River, Gamsberg, and Sullivan deposits are considered to be "SEDEX deposits with BHT affinities", and the Oonagalabie, Green Mountain (Colorado), and Zinkgruvan are "VMS deposits with BHT affinities". In the Broken Hill area (Australia), Corruga-type Pb-Zn-Ag deposits occur in calc-silicate rocks and possess some BHT characteristics; the Big Syncline, Cottonbelt, Menninie Dam, and Saxberget deposits are Corruga-type deposits. SEDEX deposits with BHT affinities, VMS

Photocatalytic activity of Ag/ZnO core-shell nanoparticles with shell thickness as controlling parameter under green environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajbongshi, Himanshu; Bhattacharjee, Suparna; Datta, Pranayee

2017-02-01

Plasmonic Ag/ZnO core-shell nanoparticles have been synthesized via a simple two-step wet chemical method for application in Photocatalysis. The morphology, size, crystal structure, composition and optical properties of the nanoparticles are investigated by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The shell thicknesses are varied by varying the concentration of zinc nitrate hexa-hydrate and triethanolamine. The ZnO shell coating over Ag core enhances the charge separation, whereas the larger shell thickness and increased refractive index of surrounding medium cause red shifts of surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of Ag core. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of Ag/ZnO core-shell show that the larger shell thickness quenches the near band edge UV emission of ZnO. The electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) i.e. Nyquist plots also confirm the higher charge transfer efficiency of the Ag/ZnO core-shell nanoparticles. The Photocatalytic activities of Ag/ZnO core-shell nanoparticles are investigated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under direct sunlight irradiation. Compared to pure ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), Ag/ZnO core-shell NPs display efficient sunlight plasmonic photocatalytic activity because of the influence of SPR of Ag core and the electron sink effect. The photocatalytic activity of Ag/ZnO core-shell NPs is found to be enhanced with increase in shell thickness.

Characterisation of Redlen high-flux CdZnTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomas, B.; Veale, M. C.; Wilson, M. D.; Seller, P.; Schneider, A.; Iniewski, K.

2017-12-01

CdZnTe is a promising material for the current generation of free electron laser light sources and future laser-driven γ-ray sources which require detectors capable of high flux imaging at X-ray and γ-ray energies (> 10 keV) . However, at high fluxes CdZnTe has been shown to polarise due to hole trapping, leading to poor performance. Novel Redlen CdZnTe material with improved hole transport properties has been designed for high flux applications. Small pixel CdZnTe detectors were fabricated by Redlen Technologies and flip-chip bonded to PIXIE ASICs. An XIA Digital Gamma Finder PIXIE-16 system was used to digitise each of the nine analogue signals with a timing resolution of 10 ns. Pulse shape analysis was used to extract the rise times and amplitude of signals. These were measured as a function of applied bias voltage and used to calculate the mobility (μ) and mobility-lifetime (μτ) of electrons and holes in the material for three identical detectors. The measured values of the transport properties of electrons in the high-flux-capable material was lower than previously reported for Redlen CdZnTe material (μeτe ~ 1 × 10-3 cm2V-1 and μe ~ 1000 cm2V-1s-1) while the hole transport properties were found to have improved (μhτh ~ 3 × 10-4 cm2V-1 and μh ~ 100 cm2V-1s-1).

Impact of ZnO and Ag Nanoparticles on Bacterial Growth and Viability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olson, M. S.; Digiovanni, K. A.

2007-12-01

Hundreds of consumer products containing nanomaterials are currently available in the U.S., including computers, clothing, cosmetics, sports equipment, medical devices and product packaging. Metallic nanoparticles can be embedded in or coated on product surfaces to provide antimicrobial, deodorizing, and stain- resistant properties. Although these products have the potential to provide significant benefit to the user, the impact of these products on the environment remains largely unknown. The purpose of this project is to study the effect of metallic nanoparticles released to the environment on bacterial growth and viability. Inhibition of bacterial growth was tested by adding doses of suspended ZnO and Ag nanoparticles into luria broth prior to inoculation of Escherichia coli cells. ZnO particles (approximately 40 nm) were obtained commercially and Ag particles (12-14 nm) were fabricated by reduction of silver nitrate with sodium borohydride. Toxicity assays were performed to test the viability of E. coli cells exposed to both ZnO and Ag nanoparticles using the LIVE/DEAD BacLight bacterial viability kit (Invitrogen). Live cells stain green whereas cells with compromised membranes that are considered dead or dying stain red. Cells were first grown, stained, and exposed to varying doses of metallic nanoparticles, and then bacterial viability was measured hourly using fluorescence microscopy. Results indicate that both ZnO and Ag nanoparticles inhibit the growth of E. coli in liquid media. Preliminary results from toxicity assays confirm the toxic effect of ZnO and Ag nanoparticles on active cell cultures. Calculated death rates resulting from analyses of toxicity studies will be presented.

Elucidation of Two Giants: Challenges to Thick-shell Synthesis in CdSe/ZnSe and ZnSe/CdS Core/Shell Quantum Dots

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Acharya, Krishna P.; Nguyen, Hue M.; Paulite, Melissa

2015-03-06

Core/thick-shell "giant" quantum dots (gQDs) possessing type II electronic structures exhibit suppressed blinking and diminished nonradiative Auger recombination. Here we investigate CdSe/ZnSe and ZnSe/CdS as potential new gQDs. We show theoretically and experimentally that both can exhibit partial or complete spatial separation of an excited-state electron–hole pair (i.e., type II behavior). However, we reveal that thick-shell growth is challenged by competing processes: alloying and cation exchange. We demonstrate that these can be largely avoided by choice of shelling conditions (e.g., time, temperature, and QD core identity). The resulting CdSe/ZnSe gQDs exhibit unusual single-QD properties, principally emitting from dim gray statesmore » but having high two-exciton (biexciton) emission efficiencies, whereas ZnSe/CdS gQDs show characteristic gQD blinking suppression, though only if shelling is accompanied by partial cation exchange.« less

Synthesis and characterization of Cd Cr and Zn Cd Cr layered double hydroxides intercalated with dodecyl sulfate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Ying; Zhang, He; Zhao, Lan; Li, Guo-Dong; Chen, Jie-Sheng; Xu, Lin

2005-06-01

Cd-Cr and Zn-Cd-Cr layered double hydroxides (CdCr-LDH and ZnCdCr-LDH) containing alkyl sulfate as the interlamellar anion have been prepared through a coprecipitation technique. The resulting compounds were characterized using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Magnetic property measurements indicate that antiferromagnetic interactions occur between the chromium ions in the two compounds at low temperatures. The introduction of zinc influences the ligand field of Cr III and the Cr III-Cr III interactions in the LDH compound. It is found that both CdCr-LDH and ZnCdCr-LDH can be delaminated by dispersion in formamide, leading to translucent and stable colloidal solutions.

Surface tension modelling of liquid Cd-Sn-Zn alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fima, Przemyslaw; Novakovic, Rada

2018-06-01

The thermodynamic model in conjunction with Butler equation and the geometric models were used for the surface tension calculation of Cd-Sn-Zn liquid alloys. Good agreement was found between the experimental data for limiting binaries and model calculations performed with Butler model. In the case of ternary alloys, the surface tension variation with Cd content is better reproduced in the case of alloys lying on vertical sections defined by high Sn to Zn molar fraction ratio. The calculated surface tension is in relatively good agreement with the available experimental data. In addition, the surface segregation of liquid ternary Cd-Sn-Zn and constituent binaries has also been calculated.

Properties of a CdZnO/ZnO multiple quantum-well light-emitting diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhan-Hui; Zhang, Li-Li; Li, Qing-Fang; Zhang, Rong; Xie, Zi-Li; Xiu, Xiang-Qian; Liu, Bin

2016-10-01

A CdZnO/ZnO multiple quantum-well light-emitting diode (LED) structure was successfully grown by using plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy on a p-GaN template that had been grown by using metal-organic chemical-vapor deposition on a c-sapphire substrate. The properties of the sample were characterized by using high-resolution X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements. The light output performance of the CdZnO/ZnO QW LED device was also investigated in detail by using I-V and electroluminescence spectral measurements. The characterization showed that our CdZnO/ZnO QW LED structure had good crystalline quality and weaker carrier localization. Owing to the heterojunction structure, the I-V curve indicated that the LED device had a higher turn-on voltage and series resistance. The EL measurement demonstrated that for our LED device's optoelectronic characteristic, the carrier-screening effect played the dominant role in the emission-energy blue-shift mechanism, and the broadening of the emission energy width was mainly ascribed to the band-filling effect. Without a special heat sinking, the L-I curve exhibited slight efficiency droop after 30 mA.

The green synthesis of Ag/ZnO in montmorillonite with enhanced photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sohrabnezhad, Sh.; Seifi, A.

2016-11-01

The Ag/ZnO-MMT nanocomposite was prepared using urtica dioica leaf extract. To improve the photocatalytic properties of ZnO-MMT nanocomposite, silver metal nanoparticles was deposited over nanocomposite. Zn(CH3COO)2, AgNO3 and Urtica dioica leaf extract were used as a zinc, silver precursor and reducing agent, respectively. The nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The powder X-ray diffraction showed that Ag/ZnO nanoparticles located on the surface MMT layers. The diffuse reflectance spectra of nanocomposite indicated a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption band in the visible region, resulting from metallic Ag nanoparticles. TEM image demonstrated the presence of silver nanoparticles with an average size of 2-4 nm over both MMT and flower-shape ZnO. The photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite was studied for destructive reaction methylene blue dye under visible light. In addition, the effects of different parameters such as amount of nanocomposite, concentration of the dye and pH of the solution were studied. The results showed that modiffication of ZnO-MMT nanocomposite with silver nanoparticles increased the percentage of discoloration methylene blue (MB) from 38.95 to 91.95. MMT matrix showed an important role in the reduction of recombination of electron-hole in nanocomposite.

Formation of highly luminescent Zn1-xCdxSe nanocrystals using CdSe and ZnSe seeds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Ruili; Yang, Ping

2013-05-01

High-quality colloidal Zn1-xCdxSe nanocrystals (NCs) with tunable photoluminescence (PL) from blue to orange were synthesized using oleic acid as a capping agent. The Zn1-xCdxSe NCs were prepared through two approaches: using CdSe or ZnSe seeds. In the case of CdSe NCs as seeds, Zn1-xCdxSe NCs were fabricated by the reaction of Zn, Cd, and Se precursors in the coordinating solvent system at high temperature. The Zn1-xCdxSe NCs revealed orange emitting. A significant blue-shift of absorption and PL spectra were observed with time, indicating the formation of ternary NCs. In contrast, Zn1-xCdxSe NCs revealed blue to green PL for ZnSe NCs as seeds. This is ascribed to an embryonic nuclei-induced alloying process. With increasing time, the Zn1-xCdxSe NCs exhibited a red-shift both in their absorption and PL spectra. This is attributed to the engineering in band gap energy via the control of NC composition. The PL properties of as-prepared alloyed NCs are comparable or even better than those for the parent binary systems. The PL peak wavelength of the Zn1-xCdxSe NCs depended strongly on reaction time and the molar ratio of Cd/Zn. The Zn1-xCdxSe NCs revealed a spherical morphology and exhibited a wurtzite structure according to transmission electron microscopy observation and an X-ray diffraction analysis.

HRTEM Analysis of Crystallographic Defects in CdZnTe Single Crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasar, Bengisu; Ergunt, Yasin; Kabukcuoglu, Merve Pinar; Parlak, Mehmet; Turan, Rasit; Kalay, Yunus Eren

2018-01-01

In recent years, CdZnTe has attracted much attention due to its superior electrical and structural properties for room-temperature operable gamma and x-ray detectors. However, CdZnTe (CZT) material has often suffered from crystallographic defects encountered during the growth and post-growth processes. The identification and structural characterization of these defects is crucial to synthesize defect-free CdZnTe single crystals. In this study, Cd0.95 Zn0.05 Te single crystals were grown using a three-zone vertical Bridgman system. The single crystallinity of the material was ensured by using x-ray diffraction measurements. High-resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM) was used to characterize the nano-scale defects on the CdZnTe matrix. The linear defects oriented along the ⟨211⟩ direction were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the corresponding HRTEM image simulations were performed by using a quantitative scanning TEM simulation package.

Ag nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanorod array on a mechanical flexible substrate with enhanced optical and antimicrobial properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yi; Tse, Wai Hei; Chen, Longyan; Zhang, Jin

2015-03-01

Heteronanostructured zinc oxide nanorod (ZnO NR) array are vertically grown on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through a hydrothermal method followed by an in situ deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a photoreduction process. The Ag-ZnO heterostructured nanorods on PDMS are measured with an average diameter of 160 nm and an average length of 2 μm. ZnO NRs measured by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) shows highly crystalline with a lattice fringe of 0.255 nm, which corresponds to the (0002) planes in ZnO crystal lattice. The average diameter of the Ag NPs in situ deposited on the ZnO NRs is estimated at 22 ± 2 nm. As compared to the bare ZnO NRs, the heterostructured Ag-ZnO nanorod array shows enhanced ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 440 nm, and significant emission in the visible region (λem = 542 nm). In addition, the antimicrobial efficiency of Ag-ZnO heterostructured nanorod array shows obvious improvement as compared to bare ZnO nanorod array. The cytotoxicity of ZnO nanorod array with and without Ag NPs was studied by using 3 T3 mouse fibroblast cell line. No significant toxic effect is imposed on the cells.

Ag nanoparticles-decorated ZnO nanorod array on a mechanical flexible substrate with enhanced optical and antimicrobial properties.

PubMed

Chen, Yi; Tse, Wai Hei; Chen, Longyan; Zhang, Jin

2015-01-01

Heteronanostructured zinc oxide nanorod (ZnO NR) array are vertically grown on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through a hydrothermal method followed by an in situ deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a photoreduction process. The Ag-ZnO heterostructured nanorods on PDMS are measured with an average diameter of 160 nm and an average length of 2 μm. ZnO NRs measured by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) shows highly crystalline with a lattice fringe of 0.255 nm, which corresponds to the (0002) planes in ZnO crystal lattice. The average diameter of the Ag NPs in situ deposited on the ZnO NRs is estimated at 22 ± 2 nm. As compared to the bare ZnO NRs, the heterostructured Ag-ZnO nanorod array shows enhanced ultraviolet (UV) absorption at 440 nm, and significant emission in the visible region (λem = 542 nm). In addition, the antimicrobial efficiency of Ag-ZnO heterostructured nanorod array shows obvious improvement as compared to bare ZnO nanorod array. The cytotoxicity of ZnO nanorod array with and without Ag NPs was studied by using 3 T3 mouse fibroblast cell line. No significant toxic effect is imposed on the cells.

Loading Ag nanoparticles on Cd(II) boron imidazolate framework for photocatalysis

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Min; State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002; Zhang, De-Xiang

2016-05-15

An amine-functionalized Cd(II) boron imidazolate framework (BIF-77) with three-dimensional open structure has been successfully synthesized, which can load Ag nanoparticles (NPs) for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). - Graphical abstract: An amine-functionalized neutral Cd(II) boron imidazolate framework can load Ag NPs and show excellent photocatalytic degradation behavious for MB. - Highlights: • Amine-functionalization. • Neutral boron imidazolate framework. • Loading Ag nanoparticles (NPs). • Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

Morphologically manipulated Ag/ZnO nanostructures as surface enhanced Raman scattering probes for explosives detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaik, Ummar Pasha; Hamad, Syed; Ahamad Mohiddon, Md.; Soma, Venugopal Rao; Ghanashyam Krishna, M.

2016-03-01

The detection of secondary explosive molecules (e.g., ANTA, FOX-7, and CL-20) using Ag decorated ZnO nanostructures as surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) probes is demonstrated. ZnO nanostructures were grown on borosilicate glass substrates by rapid thermal oxidation of metallic Zn films at 500 °C. The oxide nanostructures, including nanosheets and nanowires, emerged over the surface of the Zn film leaving behind the metal residue. We demonstrate that SERS measurements with concentrations as low as 10 μM, of the three explosive molecules ANTA, FOX-7, and CL-20 over ZnO/Ag nanostructures, resulted in enhancement factors of ˜107, ˜107, and ˜104, respectively. These measurements validate the high sensitivity of detection of explosive molecules using Ag decorated ZnO nanostructures as SERS substrates. The Zn metal residue and conditions of annealing play an important role in determining the detection sensitivity.

Preparation, structural and luminescent properties of nanocrystalline ZnO films doped Ag by close space sublimation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khomchenko, Viktoriya; Mazin, Mikhail; Sopinskyy, Mykola; Lytvyn, Oksana; Dan'ko, Viktor; Piryatinskii, Yurii; Demydiuk, Pavlo

2018-05-01

The simple way for silver doping of ZnO films is presented. The ZnO films were prepared by reactive rf-magnetron sputtering on silicon and sapphire substrates. Ag doping is carried out by sublimation of the Ag source located at close space at atmospheric pressure in air. Then the ZnO and ZnO-Ag films were annealed in wet media. The microstructure and optical properties of the films were compared and studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL). XRD results indicated that all the ZnO films have a polycrystalline hexagonal structure and a preferred orientation with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The annealing and Ag doping promote increasing grain's sizes and modification of grain size distribution. The effect of substrate temperature, substrate type, Ag doping and post-growth annealing of the films was studied by PL spectroscopy. The effect of Ag doping was obvious and identical for all the films, namely the wide visible bands of PL spectra are suppressed by Ag doping. The intensity of ultraviolet band increased 15 times as compared to their reference films on sapphire substrate. The ultraviolet/visible emission ratio was 20. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) for a 380 nm band was 14 nm, which is comparable with that of epitaxial ZnO. The data implies the high quality of ZnO-Ag films. Possible mechanisms to enhance UV emission are discussed.

Proteomic Profiling of the Interactions of Cd/Zn in the Roots of Dwarf Polish Wheat (Triticum polonicum L.)

PubMed Central

Wang, Yi; Wang, Xiaolu; Wang, Chao; Wang, Ruijiao; Peng, Fan; Xiao, Xue; Zeng, Jian; Fan, Xing; Kang, Houyang; Sha, Lina; Zhang, Haiqin; Zhou, Yonghong

2016-01-01

Cd and Zn have been shown to interact antagonistically or synergistically in various plants. In the present study of dwarf polish wheat (DPW)roots, Cd uptake was inhibited by Zn, and Zn uptake was inhibited by Cd, suggesting that Cd and Zn interact antagonistically in this plant. A study of proteomic changes showed that Cd, Zn, and Cd+Zn stresses altered the expression of 206, 303, and 190 proteins respectively. Among these, 53 proteins were altered significantly in response to all these stresses (Cd, Zn, and Cd+Zn), whereas 58, 131, and 47 proteins were altered in response to individual stresses (Cd, Zn, and Cd+Zn, respectively). Sixty-one differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were induced in response to both Cd and Zn stresses; 33 proteins were induced in response to both Cd and Cd+Zn stresses; and 57 proteins were induced in response to both Zn and Cd+Zn stresses. These results indicate that Cd and Zn induce differential molecular responses, which result in differing interactions of Cd/Zn. A number of proteins that mainly participate in oxidation-reduction and GSH, SAM, and sucrose metabolisms were induced in response to Cd stress, but not Cd+Zn stress. This result indicates that these proteins participate in Zn inhibition of Cd uptake and ultimately cause Zn detoxification of Cd. Meanwhile, a number of proteins that mainly participate in sucrose and organic acid metabolisms and oxidation-reduction were induced in response to Zn stress but not Cd+Zn stress. This result indicates that these proteins participate in Cd inhibition of Zn uptake and ultimately cause the Cd detoxification of Zn. Other proteins induced in response to Cd, Zn, or Cd+Zn stress, participate in ribosome biogenesis, DNA metabolism, and protein folding/modification and may also participate in the differential defense mechanisms. PMID:27683584

Nonlinear optical properties of hybridized CdS/ZnS-PVP sols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulagina, A. S.; Evstropiev, S. K.; Khrebtov, A. I.

2017-11-01

Hybrid composites of CdS-core ZnS-shell nanoparticles embedded in polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrixes have been prepared and characterized. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanocrystals were grown in water-propanol-2 solutions containing high-molecular (Ms=1300000) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) at room temperature using cadmium nitrate and sodium sulfide as the cadmium and sulfur sources, respectively. The CdS/ZnS-PVP suspensions have promising optical properties for nanocomposite films based on. Nonlinear optical properties of diluted CdS/ZnS sols were studied at 532 nm and 5 ns laser pulses by using the Z-scan technique. Dependence of the nonlinear-optical coefficients on the CdS weight has been obtained.

Plasmonic Ag coated Zn/Ti-LDH with excellent photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Yanping; Zhu, Runliang; Zhu, Gangqiang; Wang, Miaomiao; Chen, Yannan; Zhu, Jianxi; Xi, Yunfei; He, Hongping

2018-03-01

Nowadays, two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets, such as layered double hydroxides (LDH), have received considerable attention for their potential to meeting clean energy demand and solving environmental problems. In this work, novel and efficient photocatalysts of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles coated Zn/Ti-LDH nanosheets have been synthesized through low-temperature reduction method. The structural characteristics of the as-prepared products were investigated by a series of characteristic methods The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed that Ag nanoparticles were distributed on the surface of Zn/Ti-LDH uniformly. The UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) showed that the absorbance of Ag/LDH in visible-light region enhanced markedly and presented a broad band at 500-600 nm, which was resulted from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag nanoparticles. The photocatalytic activities of Ag/LDH were evaluated by degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) and NO. The photocatalytic experiments showed that Ag/LDH had higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure LDH, and 2%Ag/LDH exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. In addition, the 2%Ag/LDH exhibited high photochemical stability after multiple reaction runs. The obtained results from photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic measurement and transient photocurrent (I-V) analysis both revealed the existence of Schottky barriers between LDH and Ag nanoparticles. The electron spin resonance (ESR) showed that rad OH were the dominant active species in the photo-degradation process. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the composite should be ascribed to both the SPR effect of Ag nanoparticles in visible light and the Schottky barriers between LDH and Ag nanoparticles.

The quadrupole moments of Cd and Zn isotopes - an apology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haas, H.; Barbosa, M. B.; Correia, J. G.

2016-12-01

In 2010 we presented an update of the nuclear quadrupole moments (Q) for the Cd and Zn isotopes, based essentially on straightforward density functional (DF) calculations (H. Haas and J.G. Correia, Hyperfine Interact 198, 133-137 (2010)). It has been apparent for some years that the standard DF procedure obviously fails, however, to reproduce the known electric-field gradient (EFG) for various systems, typical cases being Cu2O, As and Sb, and the solid halogens. Recently a cure for this deficiency has been found in the hybrid DF technique. This method is now applied to solid Cd and Zn, and the resultant quadrupole moments are about 15 % smaller than in our earlier report. Also nuclear systematics, using the recently revised values of Q for the long-lived 11/2 isomers in111Cd to129Cd, together with earlier PAD data for107,109Cd, leads to the same conclusion. In addition, EFG calculations for the cadmium dimethyl molecule further support the new values: Q(111Cd, 5/2+) = .683(20) b, Q(67Zn, gs) = .132(5) b. This implies, that the value for the atomic EFG in the 3it {P}1 state of Zn must be revised, as it has been for Cd.

CdO nanorods and Cd(OH)2/Ag core/satellite nanorods: Rapid and efficient sonochemical synthesis, characterization and their magnetic properties.

PubMed

Abbas, Mohamed; Tawfik, Wael; Chen, Jiangang

2018-01-01

We have designed an efficient and direct sonochemical method for the facile synthesis of Cd(OH) 2 , CdO, and Cd(OH) 2 /Ag core/satellite nanorods. A Cd(OH) 2 nanorod was synthesized with a one-pot, environmentally-friendly aqueous sonochemical reaction, followed by calcination at 500°C to produce CdO nanorods. Thirty minutes of re-ultrasonicated CdO nanorods in the presence of the Ag precursor was sufficient for phase transformation from the cubic structure of CdO to the monoclinic crystalline structure of Cd(OH) 2 , accompanied by deposition of Ag nanodots on the surface to form Cd(OH) 2 /Ag core/satellite nanorods. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, N 2 Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption-desorption, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy measurements confirmed the successful formation of the various phases and the unique morphology of the nanorods/satellites. We also measured the magnetic properties using a vibrating sample magnetometer at room temperature, and the produced nanorods showed weak unsaturated ferromagnetic properties with a magnetic moment values of 0.105 and 0.076emu/g for CdO and Cd(OH) 2 /Ag NRs, respectively. In conclusion, our one-pot, cost-effective, sonochemical approach holds promise for the synthesis of various oxides and core/satellite nanoparticles. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Studies on Magnetron Sputtered ZnO-Ag Films: Adhesion Activity of S. aureus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geetha, S. R.; Dhivya, P.; Raj, P. Deepak; Sridharan, M.; Princy, S. Adline

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been deposited onto thoroughly cleaned stainless steel (AISI SS 304) substrates by reactive direct current (dc) magnetron sputtering and the films were doped with silver (Ag). The prepared thin films were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) to investigate the structural and morphological properties. The thickness values of the films were in the range of 194 to 256nm. XRD results revealed that the films were crystalline with preferred (002) orientation. Grain size values of pure ZnO films were found to be 19.82-23.72nm. On introducing Ag into ZnO film, the micro-structural properties varied. Adhesion test was carried out with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in order to know the adherence property of the deposited films. Colony formation units (CFU) were counted manually and bacterial adhesion inhibition (BAI) was calculated. We observed a decrease in the CFU on doping Ag in the ZnO films. BAI of the film deposited at - 100 V substrate bias was found to be increased on Ag doping from 69 to 88%.

Study on the effect of Cd-diffusion annealing on the electrical properties of CdZnTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wanwan, Li; Zechun, Cao; Bin, Zhang; Feng, Zhan; Hongtao, Liu; Wenbin, Sang; Jiahua, Min; Kang, Sun

2006-06-01

In order to meet the requirements for the device design of radiation detectors, CdZnTe (or Cd 1-xZn xTe) crystals grown by Vertical Bridgman Method often need subsequent annealing to increase their resistivity. The nature of this treatment is a diffusion process. Thus, it is meaningful to relate the change of resistivity to the diffusion parameters. A model correlating resistivity and conduction type of CdZnTe with the main diffusion parameter—diffusion coefficient—is put forward in this paper. Combining the model with the analysis of our experimental data, DCd=1.464×10 -10, 1.085×10 -11 and 4.167×10 -13 cm 2/s are the values of Cd self-diffusion coefficient in Cd 0.9Zn 0.1Te at 1073, 973 and 873 K, respectively. The data coincide closely with the Cd self-diffusion coefficient in CdTe provided by different authors [E.D. Jones, N.M. Stewart, Self-diffusion of cadmium in cadmium telluride, J. Crystal Growth 84 (1987) 289-294; P.M. Borsenberger, D.A. Stevenson, J. Phys. Chem. Solids 29 (1968) 1277; R.C. Whelan, D. Shaw, in: D.G. Thomas (Ed.), II -VI Semiconductor Compounds, Benjamin, New York, 1967, p. 451]. With the data, the effects of annealing time on the change of resistivity and conduction type for Cd 0.9Zn 0.1Te wafers, which are annealed in saturated Cd vapor at 1073, 973 and 873 K, were simulated, and good consistency was found. This work suggests an alternative way to obtain the diffusion coefficient in semiconductor materials and also enables ones to analyze the diffusion process quantitatively and predict the annealing results.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry studies on ZnCdO thin films with different Cd concentrations grown by pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shuai; Li, Qingxuan; Ferguson, Ian; Lin, Tao; Wan, Lingyu; Feng, Zhe Chuan; Zhu, Liping; Ye, Zhizhen

2017-11-01

A set of Zn1-xCdxO thin films with different Cd concentrations was deposited on quartz substrates by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD). The properties of these films were investigated by variable angle and temperature dependent spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). The experimental Zn1-xCdxO thin films showed a red shift in the absorption edge with increasing Cd contents at room temperature. For ZnCdO films with the similar Cd concentration, it has been found that the film thickness has important effects on the optical constants (n, k). The variations of optical constants (n, k) and the band gap, E0, with temperature (T) in 25 °C-600 °C for a typical Zn0.95Cd0.05O sample were obtained. The E0 vs T relationship is described by a T- quadratic equation.

Self-assembled Ag nanoparticle network passivated by a nano-sized ZnO layer for transparent and flexible film heaters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Seo, Ki-Won; Kim, Han-Ki, E-mail: imdlhkkim@khu.ac.kr; Kim, Min-Yi

2015-12-15

We investigated a self-assembled Ag nanoparticle network electrode passivated by a nano-sized ZnO layer for use in high-performance transparent and flexible film heaters (TFFHs). The low temperature atomic layer deposition of a nano-sized ZnO layer effectively filled the uncovered area of Ag network and improved the current spreading in the self-assembled Ag network without a change in the sheet resistance and optical transmittance as well as mechanical flexibility. The time-temperature profiles and heat distribution analysis demonstrate that the performance of the TFTH with the ZnO/Ag network is superior to that of a TFFH with Ag nanowire electrodes. In addition, themore » TFTHs with ZnO/Ag network exhibited better stability than the TFFH with a bare Ag network due to the effective current spreading through the nano-sized ZnO layer.« less

Significant enhancement of yellow-green light emission of ZnO nanorod arrays using Ag island films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Chin-An; Tsai, Dung-Sheng; Chen, Cheng-Ying; He-Hau, Jr.

2011-03-01

Surface plasmon (SP) mediated emission from ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs)/Ag/Si structures has been investigated. The ratio of visible emission to UV emission can be increased by over 30 times via coupling with SP without deterioration of the crystal quality. The fact that the effect of SP crucially depends on the size of Ag island films provides the feasibility to significantly enhance the yellow-green emission of the ZnO nanostructures without sacrificing the crystallinity of ZnO.Surface plasmon (SP) mediated emission from ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs)/Ag/Si structures has been investigated. The ratio of visible emission to UV emission can be increased by over 30 times via coupling with SP without deterioration of the crystal quality. The fact that the effect of SP crucially depends on the size of Ag island films provides the feasibility to significantly enhance the yellow-green emission of the ZnO nanostructures without sacrificing the crystallinity of ZnO. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c0nr00732c

Facile synthesis of Ag/ZnO heterostructures assisted by UV irradiation: Highly photocatalytic property and enhanced photostability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Zhongmei, E-mail: kalimodor@163.com; Zhang, Ping; Ding, Yanhuai

2011-10-15

Highlights: {yields} Fabrication of Ag/ZnO heterostructure between the two incompatible phases is realized under UV irradiation in the absence of surfactant. {yields} The synthetic method is facile, low cost, and low carbon, which depends on the photogenerated electrons produced by ZnO under UV light. {yields} Photocatalytic property of the as-synthesized samples is 3.0 times as good as the pure ZnO synthesized under the same condition or the commercial TiO{sub 2} (Degussa, P-25). {yields} The heterostructures exhibit good durability without significant change in the activity even after the third cycle compared to the pure ZnO. -- Abstract: We report a newmore » method to synthesize Ag/ZnO heterostructures assisted by UV irradiation. The formation of Ag/ZnO heterostructures depends on photogenerated electrons produced by ZnO under UV light to reduce high valence silver. Functional property of the Ag/ZnO heterostructures is evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV illumination. Results of photodegradation tests reveal that the optimal photocatalytic activity of as-syntheszied samples is about 1.5 times higher than the pure ZnO synthesized in the same condition or commercial TiO{sub 2} (P-25), showing the advantage of the unique structure in the Ag/ZnO heterostructure. Besides, due to the reduced activation of surface oxygen atom, photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts has no evident decrease even after three recycles.« less

Controllable synthesis of metal selenide heterostructures mediated by Ag2Se nanocrystals acting as catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Jiangcong; Huang, Feng; Xu, Ju; Wang, Yuansheng

2013-09-01

Ag2Se nanocrystals were demonstrated to be novel semiconductor mediators, or in other word catalysts, for the growth of semiconductor heterostructures in solution. This is a result of the unique feature of Ag2Se as a fast ion conductor, allowing foreign cations to dissolve and then to heterogrow the second phase. Using Ag2Se nanocrystals as catalysts, dimeric metal selenide heterostructures such as Ag2Se-CdSe and Ag2Se-ZnSe, and even multi-segment heterostructures such as Ag2Se-CdSe-ZnSe and Ag2Se-ZnSe-CdSe, were successfully synthesized. Several interesting features were found in the Ag2Se based heterogrowth. At the initial stage of heterogrowth, a layer of the second phase forms on the surface of an Ag2Se nanosphere, with a curved junction interface between the two phases. With further growth of the second phase, the Ag2Se nanosphere tends to flatten the junction surface by modifying its shape from sphere to hemisphere in order to minimize the conjunct area and thus the interfacial energy. Notably, the crystallographic relationship of the two phases in the heterostructure varies with the lattice parameters of the second phase, in order to reduce the lattice mismatch at the interface. Furthermore, a small lattice mismatch at the interface results in a straight rod-like second phase, while a large lattice mismatch would induce a tortuous product. The reported results may provide a new route for developing novel selenide semiconductor heterostructures which are potentially applicable in optoelectronic, biomedical, photovoltaic and catalytic fields.Ag2Se nanocrystals were demonstrated to be novel semiconductor mediators, or in other word catalysts, for the growth of semiconductor heterostructures in solution. This is a result of the unique feature of Ag2Se as a fast ion conductor, allowing foreign cations to dissolve and then to heterogrow the second phase. Using Ag2Se nanocrystals as catalysts, dimeric metal selenide heterostructures such as Ag2Se-CdSe and Ag2Se-Zn

Optical studies of CdSe/HgSe and CdSe/Ag2Se core/shell nanoparticles embedded in gelatin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azhniuk, Yu M.; Dzhagan, V. M.; Raevskaya, A. E.; Stroyuk, A. L.; Kuchmiy, S. Ya; Valakh, M. Ya; Zahn, D. R. T.

2008-11-01

CdSe/HgSe and CdSe/Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles are obtained by colloidal synthesis from aqueous solutions in the presence of gelatin. Optical absorption, luminescence, and Raman spectra of the nanoparticles obtained are measured. The variation of the optical spectra of CdSe/HgSe and CdSe/Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles with the shell thickness is discussed. Sharp non-monotonous variation of the photoluminescence spectra at low shell coverage is observed.

Lack of Zn inhibition of Cd accumulation by rice (Oryza sativa L.) supports non-Zn transporter uptake of Cd

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown on Cd contaminated soils has been linked to health problems in subsistence rice farmers in Japan and China. For other crops, normal geogenic Zn inhibits the increased uptake of Cd on contaminated soils. A study was conducted using a multi-chelator buffered nutrient sol...

Divalent metal (Ca, Cd, Mn, Zn) uptake and interactions in the aquatic insect Hydropsyche sparna.

PubMed

Poteat, Monica D; Díaz-Jaramillo, Mauricio; Buchwalter, David B

2012-05-01

Despite their ecological importance and prevalent use as ecological indicators, the trace element physiology of aquatic insects remains poorly studied. Understanding divalent metal transport processes at the water-insect interface is important because these metals may be essential (e.g. Ca), essential and potentially toxic (e.g. Zn) or non-essential and toxic (e.g. Cd). We measured accumulation kinetics of Zn and Cd across dissolved concentrations ranging 4 orders of magnitude and examined interactions with Ca and Mn in the caddisfly Hydropsyche sparna. Here, we provide evidence for at least two transport systems for both Zn and Cd, the first of which operates at concentrations below 0.8 μmol l(-1) (and is fully saturable for Zn). We observed no signs of saturation of a second lower affinity transport system at concentrations up to 8.9 μmol l(-1) Cd and 15.3 μmol l(-1) Zn. In competition studies at 0.6 μmol l(-1) Zn and Cd, the presence of Cd slowed Zn accumulation by 35% while Cd was unaffected by Zn. At extreme concentrations (listed above), Cd accumulation was unaffected by the presence of Zn whereas Zn accumulation rates were reduced by 58%. Increasing Ca from 31.1 μmol l(-1) to 1.35 mmol l(-1) resulted in only modest decreases in Cd and Zn uptake. Mn decreased adsorption of Cd and Zn to the integument but not internalization. The L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers verapamil and nifedipine and the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor carboxyeosin had no influence on Ca, Cd or Zn accumulation rates, while Ruthenium Red, a Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, significantly decreased the accumulation of all three in a concentration-dependent manner.

Atomistic tight-binding computations of the structural and optical properties of CdTe/CdX (X=S and Se)/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sukkabot, Worasak

2018-05-01

A study of CdTe/CdX (X=S and Se)/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals is carried out using atomistic tight-binding theory and the configuration interaction method to provide information for applications in bioimaging, biolabeling, display devices and near-infrared electronic instruments. The calculations yield the dependences of the internal and external passivated shells on the natural behaviours of CdTe/CdX (X=S and Se)/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals. The reduction of the optical band gaps is observed with increasing numbers of monolayers in the external ZnS shell due to quantum confinement. Interestingly, the optical band gaps of CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals are greater than those of CdTe/CdSe/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals. In the presence of an external ZnS-coated shell, electron-hole wave function overlaps, oscillation strengths, ground-state exchange energies and Stokes shift are improved, whereas ground-state coulomb energies and fine-structure splitting are reduced. The oscillation strengths, Stokes shift and fine-structure splitting are reduced with the increase in external ZnS shell thickness. The oscillation strengths, Stokes shift and fine-structure splitting of CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals are larger than those of CdTe/CdSe/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals. Reduction of the atomistic electron-hole interactions is observed with increasing external ZnS shell size. The strong electron-hole interactions are more probed in CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals than in CdTe/CdSe/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals.

On the response of alloyed ZnCdSeS quantum dot films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valais, I.; Michail, C.; Fountzoula, C.; Tseles, D.; Yannakopoulos, P.; Nikolopoulos, D.; Bakas, A.; Fountos, G.; Saatsakis, G.; Sianoudis, I.; Kandarakis, I.; Panayiotakis, G.

The aim of this work was to prepare composite ZnCdSeS quantum dot (QD) flexible films and to examine their optical properties under ultraviolet excitation. PMMA/QD ZnCdSeS composite films, with emission covering the visual spectrum (480-630 nm) were prepared with concentrations 10 mg/mL and 20 mg/mL by homogenously diluting dry powder QD samples in toluene and subsequently mixing with a PMMA/MMA polymer solution to the final ZnCdSeS/Toluene mixture. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the produced films were obtained. The ZnCdSeS films were excited by ultraviolet light of varying intensities and the spectral matching with various optical detectors was estimated.

Low temperature preparation of Ag-doped ZnO nanowire arrays for sensor and light-emitting diode applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lupan, O.; Viana, B.; Cretu, V.; Postica, V.; Adelung, R.; Pauporté, T.

2016-02-01

Transition metal doped-oxide semiconductor nanostructures are important to achieve enhanced and new properties for advanced applications. We describe the low temperature preparation of ZnO:Ag nanowire/nanorod (NW/NR) arrays by electrodeposition at 90 °C. The NWs have been characterized by SEM, EDX, transmittance and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The integration of Ag in the crystal is shown. Single nanowire/nanorod of ZnO:Ag was integrated in a nanosensor structure leading to new and enhanced properties. The ultraviolet (UV) response of the nanosensor was investigated at room temperature. Experimental results indicate that ZnO:Ag (0.75 μM) nanosensor possesses faster response/recovery time and better response to UV light than those reported in literature. The sensor structure has been also shown to give a fast response for the hydrogen detection with improved performances compared to pristine ZnO NWs. ZnO:Ag nanowire/nanorod arrays electrochemically grown on p-type GaN single crystal layer is also shown to act as light emitter in LED structures. The emission wavelength is red-shifted compared to pristine ZnO NW array. At low Ag concentration a single UV-blue emission is found whereas at higher concentration of dopant the emission is broadened and extends up to the red wavelength range. Our study indicates that high quality ZnO:Ag NW/NR prepared at low temperature by electrodeposition can serve as building nanomaterials for new sensors and light emitting diodes (LEDs) structures with low-power consumption.

ZnO-Ag core shell nanocomposite formed by green method using essential oil of wild ginger and their bactericidal and cytotoxic effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azizi, Susan; Mohamad, Rosfarizan; Rahim, Raha Abdul; Moghaddam, Amin Boroumand; Moniri, Mona; Ariff, Arbakariya; Saad, Wan Zuhainis; Namvab, Farideh

2016-10-01

In this paper, a novel green method for fabrication of zinc oxide-silver (ZnO-Ag) core-shell nanocomposite using essential oil of ginger (EO-G) is reported. The EO-G played two significant roles in the synthesis process: it could act as a reaction media for the formation of ZnO and reduce Ag+ to Ag0. The bioformed ZnO-Ag nanocomposite was compared with pure biosynthesized ZnO-NPs and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, EDX, XRD and FTIR. The characterization results confirmed that Ag-NPs had been embedded in ZnO hexagonal nanoparticles. Six Gram positive and negative pathogens were used to investigate the antibacterial effects of these samples. Ag-doping improves the bactericidal activity of ZnO-NPs. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on Vero cells, a dose dependent toxicity with non-toxic effect of concentration below 100 μg/mL was shown for ZnO-Ag nanocomposite. The biosynthesized ZnO-Ag nanocomposites were found to be comparable to those obtained from the conventional methods using hazardous materials which can be an excellent alternative for the synthesis of ZnO-Ag using biomass.

Impacts of anthropogenic pressures on the water quality of the Gironde Estuary (SW France) from the Urban Agglomeration of Bordeaux: spatial characterization and inputs of trace metal elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kessaci, Kahina; Coynel, Alexandra; Blanc, Gérard; Deycard, Victoria N.; Derriennic, Hervé; Schäfer, Jörg

2014-05-01

Recent European legislation (2000/60/CE) has listed eight trace metal elements as priority toxic substances for water quality. Urban metal inputs into hydrosystems are of increasing interest to both scientists and managers facing restrictive environmental protection policies, population increase and changing metal applications. The Gironde Estuary (SW France; 625 km2) is known for its metal/metalloid pollution originating from industrial (e.g. Cd, Zn, Cu, As, Ag, Hg) or agricultural sources (e.g. Cu) in the main fluvial tributaries (Garonne and Dordogne Rivers). However, little peer-reviewed scientific work has addressed the impact of urban sources on the Gironde Estuary, especially the Urban Agglomeration of Bordeaux (~1 million inhabitants) located on the downstream branch of the Garonne River. In this study, a snapshot sampling campaign was performed in 2011 for characterizing the spatial distribution of dissolved and particulate metal/metalloid (As, Ag, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu) concentrations in three suburban watersheds: the Jalle of Blanquefort (330 km2), Eau Bourde (140 km2), and Peugue (112 km2). Furthermore, particulate metal Enrichment Factors (EF) were calculated using local geochemical background measured at the bottom of a sediment core (492 cm). Results indicated that metal concentrations displayed a high spatial variability depending on the suburban watershed and the studied element. Local concentrations anomalies were observed for: (i) As in the Eau Bourde River in dissolved (4.2 μg/l) and particulate phases (246 mg/kg; EF= 20) and attributed to a nearby industrial incinerator; (ii) Zn in the Peugue River with maximum dissolved and particulate concentrations of 87 μg/l and 1580 mg/kg (EF=17), respectively, probably due to urban habitation runoff; (iii) Ag in the Jalle of Blanquefort River with high dissolved (74 ng/l) and particulate concentrations (33.7 mg/kg; EF=117) due to industrial activities in the downstream part. Based on hydro

Thermal-induced SPR tuning of Ag-ZnO nanocomposite thin film for plasmonic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, S. K.; Singhal, R.

2018-05-01

The formation of silver (Ag) nanoparticles in a ZnO matrix were successfully synthesized by RF-magnetron sputtering at room temperature. As prepared Ag-ZnO nanocomposite (NCs) thin films were annealed in vacuum at three different temperatures of 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C, respectively. The structural modifications for as-deposited and annealed films were estimated by X-ray diffraction and TEM techniques. The crystalline behavior preferably along the c-axis of the hexagonal wurtzite structure was observed in as-deposited Ag-ZnO film and improved significantly with increasing the annealing temperature. The crystallite size of as-deposited film was measured to be 13.6 nm, and increases up to 28.5 nm at higher temperatures. The chemical composition and surface structure of the as-deposited films were estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The presence of Ag nanoparticles with average size of 8.2 ± 0.2 nm, was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band was observed at the wavelength of ∼565 nm for as-deposited film and a remarkable red shift of ∼22 nm was recorded after the annealing treatment as confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy confirmed the grain growth from 60.38 nm to 79.42 nm for as-deposited and higher temperature annealed film respectively, with no significant change in the surface roughness. Thermal induced modifications such as disordering and lattice defects in Ag-ZnO NCs thin films were carried out by Raman spectroscopy. High quality Ag-ZnO NCs thin films with minimum strain and tunable optical properties could be useful in various plasmonic applications.

Preparation of ZnO nanorods on conductive PET-ITO-Ag fibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yiwen; Ji, Shuai; Chen, Yuanyu; Zhang, Hong; Gong, Yumei; Guo, Jing

2016-12-01

We studied the vertical ZnO nanorods grown on conductive conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers which are prepared by electroless silver depositing on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) coated PET fibers through an efficient and low-cost green approach. The PET fibers were firstly functionalized with a layer of ITO gel synthesized through a sol-gel process at rather low temperature, simply by immersing the fibers into ITO sol for several minutes followed by gelation at 120 °C. Once the ITO gel layer surface was activated by SnCl2, a continuous, uniform, and compact layer of silver was carried out on the surface of the PET-ITO fibers through electroless plating operation at room temperature. The as-prepared PET-ITO-Ag fibers had good electrical conductivity, with surface resistivity as low as 0.23 mΩ cm. The overall procedure is simple, efficient, nontoxic, and controllable. The conductive PET-ITO-Ag fiber was used successfully as a flexible basal material to plant vertical ZnO nanorods through controlling the seeding and growth processes. The morphology of the PET-ITO, PET-ITO-Ag, and PET-ITO-Ag-ZnO fibers were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Undergone the whole process, although the tensile strength of the fiber decreased slightly, they may still exert their applications in flexible electronic such as photovoltaic and piezoelectric devices.

Low-Temperature Preparation of Ag-Doped ZnO Nanowire Arrays, DFT Study, and Application to Light-Emitting Diode.

PubMed

Pauporté, Thierry; Lupan, Oleg; Zhang, Jie; Tugsuz, Tugba; Ciofini, Ilaria; Labat, Frédéric; Viana, Bruno

2015-06-10

Doping ZnO nanowires (NWs) by group IB elements is an important challenge for integrating nanostructures into functional devices with better and tuned performances. The growth of Ag-doped ZnO NWs by electrodeposition at 90 °C using a chloride bath and molecular oxygen precursor is reported. Ag acts as an electrocatalyst for the deposition and influences the nucleation and growth of the structures. The silver atomic concentration in the wires is controlled by the additive concentration in the deposition bath and a content up to 3.7 atomic % is reported. XRD analysis shows that the integration of silver enlarges the lattice parameters of ZnO. The optical measurements also show that the direct optical bandgap of ZnO is reduced by silver doping. The bandgap shift and lattice expansion are explained by first principle calculations using the density functional theory (DFT) on the silver impurity integration as an interstitial (Ag(i)) and as a substitute of zinc atom (Ag(Zn)) in the crystal lattice. They notably indicate that Ag(Zn) doping forms an impurity band because of Ag 4d and O 2p orbital interactions, shifting the Fermi level toward the valence band. At least, Ag-doped ZnO vertically aligned nanowire arrays have been epitaxially grown on GaN(001) substrate. The heterostructure has been inserted in a light emitting device. UV-blue light emission has been achieved with a low emission threshold of 5 V and a tunable red-shifted emission spectrum related to the bandgap reduction induced by silver doping of the ZnO emitter material.

Mechanical Characteristics, In Vitro Degradation, Cytotoxicity, and Antibacterial Evaluation of Zn-4.0Ag Alloy as a Biodegradable Material

PubMed Central

Li, Ping; Schille, Christine; Schweizer, Ernst; Rupp, Frank; Heiss, Alexander; Legner, Claudia; Klotz, Ulrich E.; Geis-Gerstorfer, Jürgen

2018-01-01

Zn-based biodegradable metallic materials have been regarded as new potential biomaterials for use as biodegradable implants, mainly because of the ideal degradation rate compared with those of Mg-based alloys and Fe-based alloys. In this study, we developed and investigated a novel Zn-4 wt % Ag alloy as a potential biodegradable metal. A thermomechanical treatment was applied to refine the microstructure and, consequently, to improve the mechanical properties, compared to pure Zn. The yield strength (YS), ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation of the Zn-4Ag alloy are 157 MPa, 261 MPa, and 37%, respectively. The corrosion rate of Zn-4Ag calculated from released Zn ions in DMEM extracts is approximately 0.75 ± 0.16 μg cm–2 day–1, which is higher than that of pure Zn. In vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that the Zn-4Ag alloy exhibits acceptable toxicity to L929 and Saos-2 cells, and could effectively inhibit initial bacteria adhesion. This study shows that the Zn-4Ag exhibits excellent mechanical properties, predictable degradation behavior, acceptable biocompatibility, and effective antibacterial properties, which make it a candidate biodegradable material. PMID:29518938

Study of extending carrier lifetime in ZnTe quantum dots coupled with ZnCdSe quantum well

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, W. C.; Chou, W. C.; Lee, J. D.; Lee, Ling; Phu, Nguyen Dang; Hoang, Luc Huy

2018-03-01

We demonstrated the growth of a self-assembled type-II ZnTe/ZnSe quantum dot (QD) structure coupled with a type-I Zn0.88Cd0.12Se/ZnSe quantum well (QW) on the (001) GaAs substrate by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). As the spacer thickness is less than 2 nm, the carrier lifetime increasing from 20 ns to nearly 200 ns was successfully achieved. By utilizing the time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and PL with different excitation power, we identify the PL emission from the coupled QDs consisting of two recombination mechanisms. One is the recombination between electrons in ZnSe barrier and holes confined within ZnTe QDs, and the other is between electrons confined in Zn0.88Cd0.12Se QW and holes confined within ZnTe QDs. According to the band diagram and power-dependent PL, both of the two recombinations reveal the type-II transition. In addition, the second recombination mechanism dominates the whole carrier recombination as the spacer thickness is less than 2 nm. A significant extension of carrier lifetime by increasing the electron and hole separation is illustrated in a type-II ZnTe/ZnSe QD structure coupling with a type-I ZnCdSe/ZnSe QW. Current sample structure could be used to increase the quantum efficient of solar cell based on the II-VI compound semiconductors.

Tracing Cd, Zn and Pb pollution sources in bivalves using isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiel, A. E.; Weis, D. A.; Orians, K. J.

2010-12-01

In a multi-tracer study, Cd, Zn and Pb isotopes (MC-ICP-MS) and elemental concentrations (HR-ICP-MS) are evaluated as tools to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources of these metals in bivalves from western Canada (British Columbia), the eastern USA, Hawaii and France. High Cd concentrations found in BC oysters have elicited economic and health concerns. The source of these high Cd levels is unknown but thought to be largely natural. High Cd levels in BC oysters are largely attributed to the natural upwelling of Cd-rich intermediate waters in the North Pacific as the δ114/110Cd (-0.69 to -0.09‰) and δ66/64Zn (0.28 to 0.36‰) values of BC oysters fall within the range reported for North Pacific seawater. Different contributions from anthropogenic sources account for the variability of Cd isotopic compositions of BC oysters; the lightest of these oysters are from the BC mainland. These oysters also have Pb isotopic compositions that reflect primarily anthropogenic sources (e.g., leaded and unleaded automotive gasoline and smelting of Pb ores, potentially historical). On the contrary, USA East Coast bivalves exhibit relatively light Cd isotopic compositions (δ114/110Cd = -1.20 to -0.54‰; lighter than reported for North Atlantic seawater) due to the high prevalence of industry on this coast. The Pb isotopic compositions of these bivalves indicate contributions from the combustion of coal. The large variability of environmental health among coastal areas in France is reflected in the broad range of Cd isotopic compositions exhibited by French bivalves (δ114/110Cd = -1.08 to -0.20‰). Oysters and mussels from the Marennes-Oléron basin and Gironde estuary have the lightest Cd isotopic compositions of the French oysters consistent with significant historical Cd emissions from the now-closed proximal Zn smelter. In these bivalves, significant declines in the Cd levels between 1984/7 and 2004/5 are not accompanied by a significant shift in the Cd

Synthesis, optical properties and efficient photocatalytic activity of CdO/ZnO hybrid nanocomposite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, Ch Venkata; Babu, B.; Shim, Jaesool

2018-01-01

Pure CdO, ZnO and CdO/ZnO hybrid nanocomposite photocatalyst were synthesized using simple co-precipitation technique and studied in detail. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized using several measurements such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), surface analysis (BET), diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR, TG-DTA and photoluminescence (PL). The XRD results revealed that the hexagonal and cubic crystal structure of CdO and ZnO nanoparticles. The optical response for the composite showed the presence of separate absorption signature for CdO and ZnO in the visible region at about 510 nm and 360 nm respectively. The CdO/ZnO hybrid nanocomposite photocatalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic degradation activity compared to pristine CdO and ZnO. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be due to the higher specific surface area and significantly reduced the electron-hole recombination rate.

Structural analysis of the epitaxial interface Ag/ZnO in hierarchical nanoantennas.

PubMed

Sanchez, John Eder; Santiago, Ulises; Benitez, Alfredo; Yacamán, Miguel José; González, Francisco Javier; Ponce, Arturo

2016-10-10

Detectors, photo-emitter, and other high order radiation devices work under the principle of directionality to enhance the power of emission/transmission in a particular direction. In order to understand such directionality, it is important to study their coupling mechanism of their active elements. In this work, we present a crystalline orientation analysis of ZnO nanorods grown epitaxially on the pentagonal faces of silver nanowires. The analysis of the crystalline orientation at the metal-semiconductor interface (ZnO/Ag) is performed with precession electron diffraction under assisted scanning mode. In addition, high resolution X-ray diffraction on a Bragg-Brentano configuration has been used to identify the crystalline phases of the arrangement between ZnO rods and silver nanowires. The work presented herein provides a fundamental knowledge to understand the metal-semiconductor behavior related to the receiving/transmitting mechanisms of ZnO/Ag nanoantennas.

Ultrafast carrier dynamics and third-order nonlinear optical properties of AgInS2/ZnS nanocrystals.

PubMed

Yu, Kuai; Yang, Yang; Wang, Junzhong; Tang, Xiaosheng; Xu, Qing-Hua; Wang, Guo Ping

2018-06-22

Broad photoluminescence (PL) emission, a large Stokes shift and extremely long-lived radiative lifetimes are the characteristics of ternary I-III-VI semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), such as CuInS 2 and AgInS 2 . However, the lack of understanding regarding the intriguing PL mechanisms and photo-carrier dynamics limits their further applications. Here, AgInS 2 and AgInS 2 /ZnS NCs were chemically synthesized and their carrier dynamics were studied by time-resolved PL spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the surface defect state, which contributed dominantly to the non-radiative decay processes, was effectively passivated through ZnS alloying. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was also used to investigate the carrier dynamics, revealing the electron storage at the surface state and donor state. Furthermore, the two photon absorption properties of AgInS 2 and AgInS 2 /ZnS NCs were measured using an open-aperture Z-scan technique. The improved third-order nonlinear susceptibility [Formula: see text] of AgInS 2 through ZnS alloying demonstrates potential application in two photon PL biological imaging.

Ultrafast carrier dynamics and third-order nonlinear optical properties of AgInS2/ZnS nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Kuai; Yang, Yang; Wang, Junzhong; Tang, Xiaosheng; Xu, Qing-Hua; Wang, Guo Ping

2018-06-01

Broad photoluminescence (PL) emission, a large Stokes shift and extremely long-lived radiative lifetimes are the characteristics of ternary I–III–VI semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs), such as CuInS2 and AgInS2. However, the lack of understanding regarding the intriguing PL mechanisms and photo-carrier dynamics limits their further applications. Here, AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS NCs were chemically synthesized and their carrier dynamics were studied by time-resolved PL spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the surface defect state, which contributed dominantly to the non-radiative decay processes, was effectively passivated through ZnS alloying. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy was also used to investigate the carrier dynamics, revealing the electron storage at the surface state and donor state. Furthermore, the two photon absorption properties of AgInS2 and AgInS2/ZnS NCs were measured using an open-aperture Z-scan technique. The improved third-order nonlinear susceptibility {χ }(3) of AgInS2 through ZnS alloying demonstrates potential application in two photon PL biological imaging.

Large enhancement of UV luminescence emission of ZnO nanoparticles by coupling excitons with Ag surface plasmons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuiri, Probodh K.; Pramanik, Subhamay

2018-04-01

For an emitter based on bandgap emission, defect mediated emission has always been considered as the most important loss. Here, a novel approach which can overcome such emission loss is proposed using films of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on Ag NPs embedded in silica. The effects of the size of Ag NPs on the enhancement of ultra-violet (UV) photoluminescence (PL) of ZnO NPs for such a system have been studied. For the ZnO NPs without Ag NPs, two emission bands have been seen: one in the UV region and the other one in the visible region. This UV PL emission intensity has been seen to increase significantly with a drastic reduction of the visible PL emission intensity in the case of the sample containing ZnO NPs on silica embedded Ag NPs. A linear increase in UV emission with increase in the size of Ag NPs has been found. For the largest size of Ag NPs (˜10 nm, considered in the present study), the PL emission enhancement becomes about 4 times higher than that of sample without Ag NPs. The observed enhancement of the UV PL emission was caused by coupling between spontaneous emission in ZnO and surface plasmons of Ag. The larger Ag NPs provided a larger scattering cross section in coupling surface plasmons to light leading to an increase in UV emission. Thus, it is possible to convert the useless defect emission to the useful excitonic emission with a large enhancement factor.

Enhancement of durability of NIR emission of Ag2S@ZnS QDs in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karimipour, M.; Bagheri, M.; Molaei, M.

2017-11-01

Stability of Ag2S@ZnS QDs in water is a crucial concern for their application in biology. In this work, both physical sustainability and emission stability of Ag2S QDs were enhanced using parameter optimization of a pulsed microwave irradiation (MI) method up to 105 days after their preparation. UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies depicted an absorption and emission about 817 nm and 878 nm, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed a growth of Ag2S acanthite phase. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images revealed a clear formation of Ag2S@ZnS core-shell structure.

Fabrication and characterization of Cu/sub 2/S-CdZnS solar cells. Final report. Realisation et caracterisation de cellules solaires Cu/sub 2/S-CdZnS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cadene, M.

Thin films of Cd sub(1-y)Zn sub y S (0 < y < 0.2) have been prepared either by thermal evaporation of the powdered solids from a single crucible, or by rapid evaporation from two crucibles. Different methods were used to characterise the films according to their structural, electrical and electron-optical properties as a function of the amount of Zn in the film. Both liquid-phase and solid-phase ion exchange processes have been used to deposit a thin film of Cu/sub 2/S on the Cd sub(1-y)Zn sub y S film to produce a p-n hetero-junction. A study of the growth of themore » Cd/sub 2/S layer has been carried out. Photocurrents and voltages have been determined for these Cu/sub 2/S-CdZnS cells.« less

Role of ZnO photoanode nanostructures and sensitizer deposition approaches on the photovoltaic properties of CdS/CdSe and CdS1-xSex quantum dot-sensitized solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Şişman, İlkay; Tekir, Oktay; Karaca, Hüseyin

2017-02-01

Hierarchical bundle-like ZnO nanorod arrays (BNRs) were synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal method based on two consecutive temperature steps for cascade CdS/CdSe and ternary CdS1-xSex alloy quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) as photoanode. The CdS/CdSe and CdS1-xSex QDs were deposited on the surface of the ZnO BNRs by conventional and modified successive ionic-layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) methods, respectively. Using the ZnO BNRs/CdS/CdSe photoanode, the power conversion efficiency reaches 2.08%, which is 1.8 times higher than that of pristine ZnO nanorods/CdS/CdSe photoanode, while by applying ZnO BNRs/CdS1-xSex, the power conversion efficiency improves 2.52%. The remarkably improved photovoltaic performance is mainly derived from the bundle-like nanorod arrays structure, which increases the QDs loading amount and the scattering effect for light absorption, and the appropriate conduction band energy, sufficient Se amount and well coverage of the ternary CdS1-xSex QDs result in enhanced photogenerated electron injection, high light absorption and reduced recombination, respectively. As a result, ZnO BNRs/CdS1-xSex combination can significantly improve performance of QDSSCs.

Growth and characterization of ZnO multipods on functional surfaces with different sizes and shapes of Ag particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

A, Kamalianfar; S, A. Halim; Mahmoud Godarz, Naseri; M, Navasery; Fasih, Ud Din; J, A. M. Zahedi; Kasra, Behzad; K, P. Lim; A Lavari, Monghadam; S, K. Chen

2013-08-01

Three-dimensional ZnO multipods are successfully synthesized on functional substrates using the vapor transport method in a quartz tube. The functional surfaces, which include two different distributions of Ag nanoparticles and a layer of commercial Ag nanowires, are coated onto silicon substrates before the growth of ZnO nanostructures. The structures and morphologies of the ZnO/Ag heterostructures are investigated using X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The sizes and shapes of the Ag particles affect the growth rates and initial nucleations of the ZnO structures, resulting in different numbers and shapes of multipods. They also influence the orientation and growth quality of the rods. The optical properties are studied by photoluminescence, UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate that the surface plasmon resonance strongly depends on the sizes and shapes of the Ag particles.

Theoretical Determination of Optimal Material Parameters for ZnCdTe/ZnCdSe Quantum Dot Intermediate Band Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Imperato, C. M.; Ranepura, G. A.; Deych, L. I.; Kuskovsky, I. L.

2018-03-01

Intermediate band solar cells (IBSCs) are designed to enhance the photovoltaic efficiency significantly over that of a single-junction solar cell as determined by the Shockley-Queisser limit. In this work we present calculations to determine parameters of type-II Zn1-xCdxTe/Zn1-yCdySe quantum dots (QDs) grown on the InP substrate suitable for IBSCs. The calculations are done via the self-consistent variational method, accounting for the disk form of the QDs, presence of the strained ZnSe interfacial layer, and under conditions of a strain-free device structure. We show that to achieve the required parameters relatively thick QDs are required. Barriers must contain Cd concentration in the range of 35-44%, while Cd concentration in QD can vary widely from 0% to 70%, depending on their thickness to achieve the intermediate band energies in the range of 0.50-0.73 eV. It is also shown that the results are weakly dependent on the barrier thickness.

Metal dispersion and mobility in soils from the Lik Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulphide deposit, NW Alaska: Environmental and exploration implications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kelley, K.D.; Kelley, D.L.

2003-01-01

The Lik deposit in northern Alaska is a largely unexposed shale-hosted Zn-Pb-Ag massive sulphide deposit that is underlain by continuous permafrost. Residual soils overlying the mineralized zone have element enrichments that are two to six times greater than baseline values. The most prominent elements are Ag, Mo, P, Se, Sr, V by total 4-acid digestion and Tl by a weak partial digestion (Enzyme Leach or EL) because they show multi-point anomalies that extend across the entire mineralized zone, concentration ranges are 0.5-2.6 ppm Ag, 4-26 ppm Mo, 0.1-0.3% P, 3-22 ppm Se, 90-230 ppm Sr, 170-406 ppm V, and 1.6-30 ppb Tl. Lead, Sb, and Hg are also anomalous (up to 178 ppm, 30 ppm, and 1.9 ppm, respectively), but all are characterized by single point anomalies directly over the mineralized zone, with only slightly elevated concentrations over the lower mineralized section. Zinc (total) has a consistent baseline response of 200 ppm, but it is not elevated in soils overlying the mineralized zone. However, Zn by EL shows a distinct single-point anomaly over the ore zone that suggests it was highly mobile and partly adsorbed on oxides or other secondary phases during weathering. In situ analyses (by laser ablation ICP-MS) of pyrite and sphalerite from drill core suggest that sphalerite is the primary residence for Ag, Cd, and Hg in addition to Zn, and pyrite contains As, Fe, Sb, and Tl. The level and degree of oxidation, and the proportion of reacting pyrite and carbonate minerals are two factors that affected the mobility and transport of metals. In oxidizing conditions, Zn is highly mobile relative to Hg and Ag, perhaps explaining the decoupling of Zn from the other sphalerite-hosted elements in the soils. Soils are acidic (to 3.9 pH) directly over the deposit due to the presence of acid-producing pyrite, but acid-neutralizing carbonate away from the mineralized zone yield soils that are near neutral. The soils therefore formed in a complex system involving oxidation and

A rapid, partial leach and organic separation for the sensitive determination of Ag, Bi, Cd, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb, and Zn in surface geologic materials by flame atomic absorption

USGS Publications Warehouse

Viets, J.G.; Clark, J.R.; Campbell, W.L.

1984-01-01

A solution of dilute hydrochloric acid, ascorbic acid, and potassium iodide has been found to dissolve weakly bound metals in soils, stream sediments, and oxidized rocks. Silver, Bi, Cd, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb, and Zn are selectively extracted from this solution by a mixture of Aliquat 336 (tricaprylyl methyl ammonium chloride) and MIBK (methyl isobutyl ketone). Because potentially interfering major and minor elements do not extract, the organic separation allows interference-free determinations of Ag and Cd to the 0.05 ppm level, Mo, Cu, and Zn to 0.5 ppm, and Bi, Pb, and Sb to 1 ppm in the sample using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The analytical absorbance values of the organic solution used in the proposed method are generally enhanced more than threefold as compared to aqueous solutions, due to more efficient atomization and burning characteristics. The leaching and extraction procedures are extremely rapid; as many as 100 samples may be analyzed per day, yielding 800 determinations, and the technique is adaptable to field use. The proposed method was compared to total digestion methods for geochemical reference samples as well as soils and stream sediments from mineralized and unmineralized areas. The partial leach showed better anomaly contrasts than did total digestions. Because the proposed method is very rapid and is sensitive to pathfinder elements for several types of ore deposits, it should be useful for reconnaissance surveys for concealed deposits. ?? 1984.

Structural and Solar Cell Properties of a Ag-Containing Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Film Derived from Spray Pyrolysis.

PubMed

Nguyen, Thi Hiep; Kawaguchi, Takato; Chantana, Jakapan; Minemoto, Takashi; Harada, Takashi; Nakanishi, Shuji; Ikeda, Shigeru

2018-02-14

A silver (Ag)-incorporated kesterite Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) thin film was fabricated by a facile spray pyrolysis method. Crystallographic analyses indicated successful incorporation of various amounts of Ag up to a Ag/(Ag + Cu) ratio of ca. 0.1 into the crystal lattice of CZTS in a homogeneous manner without formation of other impurity compounds. From the results of morphological investigations, Ag-incorporated films had larger crystal grains than the CZTS film. The sample with a relatively low Ag content (Ag/(Ag + Cu) of ca. 0.02) had a compact morphology without appreciable voids and pinholes. However, an increase in the Ag content in the CZTS film (Ag/(Ag + Cu) ca. 0.10) induced the formation of a large number of pinholes. As can be expected from these morphological properties, the best sunlight conversion efficiency was obtained by the solar cell based on the film with Ag/(Ag + Cu) of ca. 0.02. Electrostructural analyses of the devices suggested that the Ag-incorporated film in the device achieved reduction in the amounts of unfavorable copper on zinc antisite defects compared to the bare CZTS film. Moreover, the use of a Ag-incorporated film improved band alignment at the CdS(buffer)-CZTS interface. These alterations should also contribute to enhancement of device properties.

Ag nanodots decorated SiO2 coated ZnO core-shell nanostructure with enhanced luminescence property as potential imaging agent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Jagriti; Barick, K. C.; Hassan, P. A.; Bahadur, Dhirendra

2018-04-01

Ag decorated silica coated ZnO nanocomposite (Ag@SiO2@ZnO NCs) has been synthesized by soft chemical approach. The physico-chemical properties of Ag@SiO2@ZnO NCs are investigated by various sophisticated characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption and photoluminescent spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction confirms the phase formation of ZnO and Ag in nanocomposite. TEM micrograph clearly shows that Ag nanodots are well decorated over silica coated ZnO NCs. The photoluminescent study reveals the enhancement in the photoluminance property when the Ag nanodots are decorated over silica coated ZnO nanocomposite due to an electromagnetic coupling between excitons and plasmons. Furthermore, the photoluminescent property is an important tool for bio-imaging application, reveal that NCs give green and red emission after excitation with 488 and 535 nm. Therefore, low cytotoxicity and excellent fluorescence stability in vitro makes it a more suitable material for both cellular imaging and therapy for biomedical applications.

Nanostructure CdS/ZnO heterojunction configuration for photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velanganni, S.; Pravinraj, S.; Immanuel, P.; Thiruneelakandan, R.

2018-04-01

In the present manuscript, thin films of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) have been deposited on a FTO substrate using a simple successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and chemical bath deposition (CBD) method. Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles are sensitized over ZnO thin films using SILAR method. The synthesized nanostructured CdS/ZnO heterojunction thin films was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy techniques. The band gap of CdS nanoparticles over ZnO nanostructure was found to be about 3.20 eV. The photocatalytic activities of the deposited CdS/ZnO thin films were evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution under sun light irradiation.

Progress in the Development of CdTe and CdZnTe Semiconductor Radiation Detectors for Astrophysical and Medical Applications

PubMed Central

Sordo, Stefano Del; Abbene, Leonardo; Caroli, Ezio; Mancini, Anna Maria; Zappettini, Andrea; Ubertini, Pietro

2009-01-01

Over the last decade, cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) wide band gap semiconductors have attracted increasing interest as X-ray and gamma ray detectors. Among the traditional high performance spectrometers based on silicon (Si) and germanium (Ge), CdTe and CdZnTe detectors show high detection efficiency and good room temperature performance and are well suited for the development of compact and reliable detection systems. In this paper, we review the current status of research in the development of CdTe and CdZnTe detectors by a comprehensive survey on the material properties, the device characteristics, the different techniques for improving the overall detector performance and some major applications. Astrophysical and medical applications are discussed, pointing out the ongoing Italian research activities on the development of these detectors. PMID:22412323

ZnO/Ag nanocomposite: an efficient catalyst for degradation studies of textile effluents under visible light.

PubMed

Saravanan, R; Karthikeyan, N; Gupta, V K; Thirumal, E; Thangadurai, P; Narayanan, V; Stephen, A

2013-05-01

Degradation of model organic dye and industry effluent was studied using different weight percentages of Ag into ZnO as a catalyst. In this study, the catalysts were prepared by thermal decomposition method, which was employed for the first time in the preparation of ZnO/Ag nanocomposite catalysts. The physical and chemical properties of the prepared samples were studied using various techniques. The specific surface area, which plays an important role in the photocatalytic degradation, was studied using BET analysis and 10 wt.% Ag into ZnO showed the best degrading efficiency. The optical absorption (UV-vis) and emission (PL) properties of the samples were studied and results suggest better photocatalytic properties for 10 wt.% Ag sample compared to other samples. Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of CdSe/ZnS and CdTe/ZnS Quantum Dots: Refined Digestive Ripening

DOE PAGES

Cingarapu, Sreeram; Yang, Zhiqiang; Sorensen, Christopher M.; ...

2012-01-01

We report synthesis of CdSe and CdTe quantum dots (QDs) from the bulk CdSe and CdTe material by evaporation/co-condensation using the solvated metal atom dispersion (SMAD) technique and refined digestive ripening. The outcomes of this new process are (1) the reduction of digestive ripening time by employing ligands (trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and oleylamine (OA)) as capping agent as well as digestive ripening solvent, (2) ability to tune the photoluminescence (PL) from 410 nm to 670 nm, (3) demonstrate the ability of SMAD synthesis technique for other semiconductors (CdTe), (4) direct comparison of CdSe QDs growth with CdTe QDs growth based on digestivemore » ripening times, and (5) enhanced PL quantum yield (QY) of CdSe QDs and CdTe QDs upon covering with a ZnS shell. Further, the merit of this synthesis is the use of bulk CdSe and CdTe as the starting materials, which avoids usage of toxic organometallic compounds, eliminates the hot injection procedure, and size selective precipitation processes. It also allows the possibility of scale up. These QDs were characterized by UV-vis, photoluminescence (PL), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and powder XRD.« less

Effect of CdS Growth Time on the Optical Properties of One-Pot Preparation of CdS-Ag2S Binary Compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karimipour, M.; Izadian, L.; Molaei, M.

2018-02-01

CdS-Ag2S binary nanoparticles were synthesized using a facile one-pot microwave irradiation method. The effect of initial nucleation of CdS quantum dots (QDs) using 3 min, 5 min, and 7 min of microwave irradiation on the optical properties of the final compound was studied. The composition and crystal structure of the compounds were verified using energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. They revealed that existence of Ag and Cd elements with an atomic ratio of 0.19 crystalizes in the form of monoclinic Ag2S and hexagonal CdS. Scanning electron microscope images showed a spherical morphology of the resultant compound, and transmission electron microscope images showed the formation of fine particles of CdS-Ag2S composites with an average size of 5-7 nm and 10-14 nm for CdS and Ag2S, respectively. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed that the initial growth time of CdS has a crucial effect on the emission of binary compounds such that for 3 min and 5 min of irradiation of CdS solution, the binary compound obtains strong red and considerable near-IR emission (850 nm), but for longer time, it rapidly quenches. The results indicate that the strong red emission can be tuned from 600 nm up to 700 nm with prolonging nucleation time of CdS. This study also emphasized that the origin of red emission strongly depends on the size and defects created in the CdS QDs.

Controllable synthesis of metal selenide heterostructures mediated by Ag2Se nanocrystals acting as catalysts.

PubMed

Zhou, Jiangcong; Huang, Feng; Xu, Ju; Wang, Yuansheng

2013-10-21

Ag2Se nanocrystals were demonstrated to be novel semiconductor mediators, or in other word catalysts, for the growth of semiconductor heterostructures in solution. This is a result of the unique feature of Ag2Se as a fast ion conductor, allowing foreign cations to dissolve and then to heterogrow the second phase. Using Ag2Se nanocrystals as catalysts, dimeric metal selenide heterostructures such as Ag2Se-CdSe and Ag2Se-ZnSe, and even multi-segment heterostructures such as Ag2Se-CdSe-ZnSe and Ag2Se-ZnSe-CdSe, were successfully synthesized. Several interesting features were found in the Ag2Se based heterogrowth. At the initial stage of heterogrowth, a layer of the second phase forms on the surface of an Ag2Se nanosphere, with a curved junction interface between the two phases. With further growth of the second phase, the Ag2Se nanosphere tends to flatten the junction surface by modifying its shape from sphere to hemisphere in order to minimize the conjunct area and thus the interfacial energy. Notably, the crystallographic relationship of the two phases in the heterostructure varies with the lattice parameters of the second phase, in order to reduce the lattice mismatch at the interface. Furthermore, a small lattice mismatch at the interface results in a straight rod-like second phase, while a large lattice mismatch would induce a tortuous product. The reported results may provide a new route for developing novel selenide semiconductor heterostructures which are potentially applicable in optoelectronic, biomedical, photovoltaic and catalytic fields.

Formation and characterization of ZnS/CdS nanocomposite materials into porous silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Tao; Lv, Xiao-yi; Jia, Zhen-hong; Hou, Jun-wei; Jian, Ji-kang

2008-11-01

ZnS/CdS were deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique on porous silicon substrates formed by electrochemical anodization of n-type (100) silicon wafer. The optical properties of ZnS/CdS porous silicon composite materials are studied. The results showed that new luminescence characteristics such as strong and stable visible-light emissions with different colors were observed from the ZnS/CdS-PS nanocomposite materials at room temperature.

Wide emission-tunable CdTeSe/ZnSe/ZnS core–shell quantum dots and their conjugation with E. coli O-157

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhou, Haifeng; Zhou, Guangjun, E-mail: gjzhou@sdu.edu.cn; Zhou, Juan

2015-05-15

Highlights: • QDs with variety morphology were obtained via an injection controlled process. • 3-D PL spectra of core–shell QDs show different excitation wavelength dependence. • The PL intensity of QDs with ZnSe transition layer increases dramatically. • Core–shell QDs were processed into aqueous phase and conjugated with E. coli O-157. - Abstract: Wide emission-tunable and different morphological alloyed CdTeSe quantum dots (QDs), CdTeSe/ZnS and CdTeSe/ZnSe/ZnS core–shell QDs were successfully synthesized via an injection controlled process. The effect of injection procedure and reaction temperature were systematically discussed and the growth mechanism was proposed. Most efficient PL wavelength was correlated withmore » reaction time and temperature. The 3-D PL spectra of spherical bare CdTeSe and core–shell QDs with different passivation showed different excitation wavelength dependency. The PL intensity of CdTeSe/ZnSe/ZnS core–shell QDs increased greatly in comparison with that of CdTeSe and CdTeSe/ZnSe QDs. ZnSe transition layer played an important role in improving the PL intensity by providing a smoothened interface and gradient band offsets. The core–shell QDs were transferred into aqueous phase and successfully conjugated with Escherichia coli O-157. The proposed phase-transfer and bio-labeling strategy may be applicable to various QDs with different compositions.« less

Investigation of the growth and in situ heating transmission electron microscopy analysis of Ag2S-catalyzed ZnS nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jung Han; Kim, Jong Gu; Song, Junghyun; Bae, Tae-Sung; Kim, Kyou-Hyun; Lee, Young-Seak; Pang, Yoonsoo; Oh, Kyu Hwan; Chung, Hee-Suk

2018-04-01

We investigated the semiconductor-catalyzed formation of semiconductor nanowires (NWs) - silver sulfide (Ag2S)-catalyzed zinc sulfide (ZnS) NWs - based on a vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth mechanism through metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) with a Ag thin film. The Ag2S-catalyzed ZnS NWs were confirmed to have a wurtzite structure with a width and length in the range of ∼30 nm to ∼80 nm and ∼1 μm, respectively. Using extensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses from plane and cross-sectional viewpoints, the ZnS NWs were determined to have a c-axis, [0001] growth direction. In addition, the catalyst at the top of the ZnS NWs was determined to consist of a Ag2S phase. To support the Ag2S-catalyzed growth of the ZnS NWs by a VLS reaction, an in situ heating TEM experiment was conducted from room temperature to 840 °C. During the experiment, the melting of the Ag2S catalyst in the direction of the ZnS NWs was first observed at approximately 480 °C along with the formation of a carbon (C) shell. Subsequently, the Ag2S catalyst melted completely into the ZnS NWs at approximately 825 °C. As the temperature further increased, the Ag2S and ZnS NWs continuously melted and vaporized up to 840 °C, leaving only the C shell behind. Finally, a possible growth mechanism was proposed based on the structural and chemical investigations.

Zn/Cd ratios and cadmium isotope evidence for the classification of lead-zinc deposits

PubMed Central

Wen, Hanjie; Zhu, Chuanwei; Zhang, Yuxu; Cloquet, Christophe; Fan, Haifeng; Fu, Shaohong

2016-01-01

Lead-zinc deposits are often difficult to classify because clear criteria are lacking. In recent years, new tools, such as Cd and Zn isotopes, have been used to better understand the ore-formation processes and to classify Pb-Zn deposits. Herein, we investigate Cd concentrations, Cd isotope systematics and Zn/Cd ratios in sphalerite from nine Pb-Zn deposits divided into high-temperature systems (e.g., porphyry), low-temperature systems (e.g., Mississippi Valley type [MVT]) and exhalative systems (e.g., sedimentary exhalative [SEDEX]). Our results showed little evidence of fractionation in the high-temperature systems. In the low-temperature systems, Cd concentrations were the highest, but were also highly variable, a result consistent with the higher fractionation of Cd at low temperatures. The δ114/110Cd values in low-temperature systems were enriched in heavier isotopes (mean of 0.32 ± 0.31‰). Exhalative systems had the lowest Cd concentrations, with a mean δ114/110Cd value of 0.12 ± 0.50‰. We thus conclude that different ore-formation systems result in different characteristic Cd concentrations and fraction levels and that low-temperature processes lead to the most significant fractionation of Cd. Therefore, Cd distribution and isotopic studies can support better understanding of the geochemistry of ore-formation processes and the classification of Pb-Zn deposits. PMID:27121538

Solution processable RGO-CdZnS composite for solar light responsive photocatalytic degradation of 4-Nitrophenol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ibrahim, Sk; Chakraborty, Koushik; Pal, Tanusri; Ghosh, Surajit

2017-05-01

We report the one pot single step synthesis and characterization of solution processable reduced graphene oxide (RGO) - cadmium zinc sulfide (CdZnS) nanocomposite materials. The composite was characterized structurally and morphologically by XRD and TEM studies. The reduction of GO in RGO-CdZnS composite, was confirmed by XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the RGO-CdZnS composite was investigated towards the degradation of 4-Nitrophenol. A notable increase of photocatalytic efficiency of RGO-CdZnS compare to controlled CdZnS was observed. Here RGO plays a crucial role to efficient photo induced charge separation from the CdZnS, and decreases the electron-hole recombination probability and subsequently enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the RGO-CdZnS composite material under simulated solar light irradiation. This work highlights the potential application of RGO-based materials in the field of photocatalytic degradation of organic water pollutant.

Effect of Different Activated Carbon as Carrier on the Photocatalytic Activity of Ag-N-ZnO Photocatalyst for Methyl Orange Degradation under Visible Light Irradiation

PubMed Central

Chen, Xiaoqing; Gao, Zhenzhen; Ye, Bang-Ce

2017-01-01

In order to enhance the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) by ZnO under visible light irradiation, ZnO nanoparticles co-doped with Ag and N and supported on activated carbon (AC) with different properties were synthesized through the sol-gel method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized in terms of the structure and properties through X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and electron spin resonance. The photocatalytic activities of these photocatalysts followed the order: Ag-N-ZnO/ACs > Ag-N-ZnO > N, or Ag single-doped ZnO > commercial ZnO. This result was attributed to the small particle size, large surface area, narrow band gap, and high charge separation of Ag-N-ZnO/ACs. The Ag-N-ZnO/coconut husk activated carbon (Ag-N-ZnO/CHAC) exhibited the highest degradation efficiency of 98.82% for MO under visible light irradiation. This outcome was due to the abundant pore structure of Ag-N-ZnO/CHAC, resulting in stronger adsorption than that of other Ag-N-ZnO/ACs. Moreover, the degradation of MO on photocatalysis followed first order kinetics. The reactive species ·OH and ·O2− played more important roles in the photocatalytic degradation of MO over composite photocatalyst. Ag-N-ZnO/CHAC photocatalyst exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than unsupported Ag-N-ZnO after five recycling runs. PMID:28872593

Effect of Different Activated Carbon as Carrier on the Photocatalytic Activity of Ag-N-ZnO Photocatalyst for Methyl Orange Degradation under Visible Light Irradiation.

PubMed

Chen, Xiaoqing; Wu, Zhansheng; Gao, Zhenzhen; Ye, Bang-Ce

2017-09-05

In order to enhance the photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) by ZnO under visible light irradiation, ZnO nanoparticles co-doped with Ag and N and supported on activated carbon (AC) with different properties were synthesized through the sol-gel method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized in terms of the structure and properties through X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption-desorption, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and electron spin resonance. The photocatalytic activities of these photocatalysts followed the order: Ag-N-ZnO/ACs > Ag-N-ZnO > N, or Ag single-doped ZnO > commercial ZnO. This result was attributed to the small particle size, large surface area, narrow band gap, and high charge separation of Ag-N-ZnO/ACs. The Ag-N-ZnO/coconut husk activated carbon (Ag-N-ZnO/CHAC) exhibited the highest degradation efficiency of 98.82% for MO under visible light irradiation. This outcome was due to the abundant pore structure of Ag-N-ZnO/CHAC, resulting in stronger adsorption than that of other Ag-N-ZnO/ACs. Moreover, the degradation of MO on photocatalysis followed first order kinetics. The reactive species ·OH and ·O₂ - played more important roles in the photocatalytic degradation of MO over composite photocatalyst. Ag-N-ZnO/CHAC photocatalyst exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than unsupported Ag-N-ZnO after five recycling runs.

Structural and Optical Studies of ZnCdSe/ZnSe/ZnMgSSe Separate Confinement Heterostructures with Different Buffer Layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tu, Ru-Chin; Su, Yan-Kuin; Huang, Ying-Sheng; Chen, Giin-Sang; Chou, Shu-Tsun

1998-09-01

Detailed structural and optical studies of ZnCdSe/ZnSe/ZnMgSSe separate confinementheterostructures (SCH) grown on ZnSe, ZnSe/ZnSSe strained-layer superlattices (SLS),and GaAs buffer layers at the II VI/GaAs interface have been carried out by employingtransmission electron microscopy, variable temperature photoluminescence (PL), andcontactless electroreflectance (CER) measurements. A significant improvement onthe defect reduction and the optical quality has been observed by using either theZnSe/ZnSSe SLS or GaAs as the buffer layers when compared to that of the sample usingonly ZnSe as the buffer layer. However, the sample grown with the SLS buffer layersreveals a room temperature PL intensity higher than that of the sample grown witha GaAs buffer layer, which may still suffer from the great ionic differences betweenthe II V and III V atoms. Using 15 K CER spectra, we have also studied variousexcitonic transitions originating from strained Zn0.80Cd0.20Se/ZnSe single quantumwell in SCH with different buffer layers. An analysis of the CER spectra has ledto the identification of various excitonic transitions, mnH (L), between the mthconduction band state and the nth heavy (light)-hole band state. An excellentagreement between experiments and theoretical calculations based on the envelopefunction approximation model has been achieved.

High spatial resolution correlated investigation of Zn segregation to stacking faults in ZnTe/CdSe nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonef, Bastien; Grenier, Adeline; Gerard, Lionel; Jouneau, Pierre-Henri; André, Regis; Blavette, Didier; Bougerol, Catherine

2018-02-01

The correlative use of atom probe tomography (APT) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) allows us to characterize the structure of ZnTe/CdSe superlattices at the nanometre scale. Both techniques reveal the segregation of zinc along [111] stacking faults in CdSe layers, which is interpreted as a manifestation of the Suzuki effect. Quantitative measurements reveal a zinc enrichment around 9 at. % correlated with a depletion of cadmium in the stacking faults. Raw concentration data were corrected so as to account for the limited spatial resolution of both STEM and APT techniques. A simple calculation reveals that the stacking faults are almost saturated in Zn atoms (˜66 at. % of Zn) at the expense of Cd that is depleted.

Growth of CdZnTe Crystals for Radiation Detector Applications by Directional Solidification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Su, Ching-Hua

2014-01-01

Advances in Cadmium Zinc Telluride (Cd(sub 1-x)Zn(sub x)Te) growth techniques are needed for the production of large-scale arrays of gamma and x-ray astronomy. The research objective is to develop crystal growth recipes and techniques to obtain large, high quality CdZnTe single crystal with reduced defects, such as charge trapping, twinning, and tellurium precipitates, which degrade the performance of CdZnTe and, at the same time, to increase the yield of usable material from the CdZnTe ingot. A low gravity material experiment, "Crystal Growth of Ternary Compound Semiconductors in Low Gravity Environment", will be performed in the Material Science Research Rack (MSRR) on International Space Station (ISS). One section of the flight experiment is the melt growth of CdZnTe ternary compounds. This talk will focus on the ground-based studies on the growth of Cd(sub 0.80)Zn(sub 0.20)Te crystals for radiation detector applications by directional solidification. In this investigation, we have improved the properties that are most critical for the detector applications (electrical properties and crystalline quality): a) Electrical resistivity: use high purity starting materials (with reproducible impurity levels) and controlled Cd over pressure during growth to reproducibly balance the impurity levels and Cd vacancy concentration b) Crystalline quality: use ultra-clean growth ampoule (no wetting after growth), optimized thermal profile and ampoule design, as well as a technique for supercool reduction to growth large single crystal with high crystalline quality

Influence of plasmon coupling on the photoluminescence of ZnS/Ag nanoparticles obtained by laser irradiation in liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moos, Rafaela; Graff, Ismael L.; de Oliveira, Vinicius S.; Schreiner, Wido H.; Bezerra, Arandi G.

2017-10-01

We investigate the photoluminescence, optical absorption and structural properties of ZnS submitted to laser irradiation in water and isopropyl alcohol. Nanoparticles were produced by irradiating micro-sized ZnS particles dispersed in both liquids, with and without the addition of Ag nanoparticles, taking advantage of the laser-assisted fragmentation effect. When ZnS microparticles are irradiated either in pure water or isopropyl alcohol a considerable size reduction is achieved (from micra to few nanometers). The photoluminescence of these nanoparticles mainly occurs in the UV, centered at 350 nm, and with smaller intensity in the visible, centered at 600 nm. Irradiation of ZnS microparticles dispersed in colloidal silver triggers a reaction between both materials, modifying its optical absorption and photoluminescent properties. After irradiation of ZnS in alcohol containing Ag nanoparticles, a giant increase of the UV photoluminescence is observed. Interestingly, when the irradiation is performed in aqueous Ag nanoparticles colloids, the photoluminescence suffers a red-shift towards the violet-blue. The data show that core-shell (Ag-ZnO) nanostructures are formed after irradiation and the visible emission likely originates from the ZnO shell grown around silver nanoparticles. The presence of Ag nanoparticles in the liquid medium promotes a stronger absorption of the laser beam during irradiation due to the coupling with the surface plasmon resonance, fostering intense reactions among ZnS, Ag nanoparticles, and the liquid medium. Our study shows that with a simple change of the liquid medium wherein the irradiation is conducted the photoluminescence can be tuned from UV to visible and core-shell nanostructures can be obtained.

Structural transformation and photoluminescence modification of AgInS2 nanoparticles induced by ZnS shell formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamanaka, Yasushi; Yukitoki, Daichi; Kuzuya, Toshihiro

2015-09-01

AgInS2 nanoparticles were capped by ZnS via a widely used procedure to fabricate core/shell nanoparticles with highly efficient luminescence. The nanoparticle structures were investigated by ultrahigh-resolution analytical electron microscopy. We found that Zn-Ag-In-S nanoparticles were created by ZnS capping at ˜480 K, which suggests that the luminescence enhancement reported for such core/shell nanoparticles is not caused by the passivation of surface defects by ZnS shells but by Zn doping. Quasi-core/shell nanoparticles could be obtained by ZnS capping without heating. However, their luminescence efficiency remained unchanged, indicating that surface passivation was ineffective when ZnS shells were formed at room temperature.

Photoluminescent enhancement of CdSe/Cd(1-x) Zn(x)S quantum dots by hexadecylamine at room temperature.

PubMed

Yang, Jie; Yang, Ping

2012-09-01

CdSe/Cd(1-x) Zn(x)S core/shell quantum dots (QDs) were fabricated in 1-octadecene via a two step synthesis. CdSe cores were first prepared using CdO, trioctylphosphine (TOP) selenium, and stearic acid. Subsquently, a Cd(1-x) Zn(x)S shell coating was carried out using zinc acetate dihydrate, cadmium acetate dihydrate, TOPS, and hexadecylamine (HDA) starting materials in the friendly organic system under relatively low temperature. The absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra have a significant red shift after the coverage of Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S shell on CdSe cores. The X-ray diffraction analysis of samples confirmed the formation of core/shell structure. The PL quantum yields (QYs) of CdSe/Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S QDs were improved gradually with time at room temperature. This is ascribed to the surface passivation of HDA to the QDs during store. This phenomenon was confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectrum of samples. Namely, HDA does not capped on the surface of as-prepared QDs, in which a low PL QYs was observed (less than 10%). Being storing for certain time, HDA attached to the surface of the QDs, in which the PL QYs increased (up to 31%) and the full width at half maximum of PL spectra decreased. Moreover, the fluorescence decay curve of the core/shell QDs is closer to a biexponential decay profile and has a longer average PL lifetime. The variation of average PL lifetime also indicated the influence of HDA during store.

Quantum dot sensitized solar cell based on TiO2/CdS/Ag2S heterostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawar, Sachin A.; Patil, Dipali S.; Kim, Jin Hyeok; Patil, Pramod S.; Shin, Jae Cheol

2017-04-01

Quantum dot sensitized solar cell (QDSSC) is fabricated based on a stepwise band structure of TiO2/CdS/Ag2S to improve the photoconversion efficiency of TiO2/CdS system by incorporating a low band gap Ag2S QDs. Vertically aligned TiO2 nanorods assembly is prepared by a simple hydrothermal technique. The formation of CdS and Ag2S QDs over TiO2 nanorods assembly as a photoanode is carried out by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The synthesized electrode materials are characterized by XRD, XPS, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Optical, solar cell and electrochemical performances. The results designate that the QDs of CdS and Ag2S have efficiently covered exterior surfaces of TiO2 nanorods assembly. A cautious evaluation between TiO2/CdS and TiO2/CdS/Ag2S sensitized cells tells that CdS and Ag2S synergetically helps to enhance the light harvesting ability. Under AM 1.5G illumination, the photoanodes show an improved power conversion efficiency of 1.87%, in an aqueous polysulfide electrolyte with short-circuit photocurrent density of 7.03 mA cm-2 which is four fold higher than that of a TiO2/CdS system.

Synthesis, spectral and thermal studies of pyridyl adducts of Zn(II) and Cd(II) dithiocarbamates, and their use as single source precursors for ZnS and CdS nanoparticles.

PubMed

Onwudiwe, Damian C; Strydom, Christien A; Oluwafemi, Oluwatobi S; Hosten, Eric; Jordaan, Anine

2014-06-21

The synthesis, spectroscopic characterisation, and thermal studies of pyridyl adducts of Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes of N-ethyl-N-phenyl dithiocarbamate, represented as [ZnL2py] and [CdL2py2], are reported. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of the Zn compound showed that it is five-coordinate with four sulphurs from dithiocarbamate and one nitrogen from pyridine in a distorted square pyramidal geometry. The thermogravimetric studies indicate that the zinc and cadmium compounds undergo fast weight loss, and the temperature at maximum rate of decomposition is at 277 °C and 265 °C respectively, to give the metal (Zn or Cd) sulphide residues. These compounds were used as single molecule precursors to produce nanocrystalline MS (M = Zn, Cd) after thermolysis in hexadecylamine. The morphological and optical properties of the resulting MS nanocrystallites were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and powdered X-ray diffraction (XRD). By varying the growth time, the temporal evolution of the optical properties and morphology of the nanocrystals were investigated.

Aqueous Phase Synthesis and Enhanced Field Emission Properties of ZnO-Sulfide Heterojunction Nanowires

PubMed Central

Wang, Guojing; Li, Zhengcao; Li, Mingyang; Chen, Chienhua; Lv, Shasha; Liao, Jiecui

2016-01-01

ZnO-CdS, ZnO-ZnS, and ZnO-Ag2S core-shell heterojunction structures were fabricated using low-temperature, facile and simple aqueous solution approaches. The polycrystalline sulfide shells effectively enhance the field emission (FE) properties of ZnO nanowires arrays (NWAs). This results from the formation of the staggered gap heterointerface (ZnO-sulfide) which could lead to an energy well at the interfaces. Hence, electrons can be collected when an electric field is applied. It is observed that ZnO-ZnS NWAs have the lowest turn-on field (3.0 Vμm−1), compared with ZnO-CdS NWAs (6.3 Vμm−1) and ZnO-Ag2S NWAs (5.0 Vμm−1). This may be associated with the pyramid-like ZnS shell which increases the number of emission nanotips. Moreover, the Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) plot displays a nonlinear relationship in the low and high electric field regions caused by the double well potential effect of the heterojunction structures. PMID:27387653

Effect of Ag doping on the structural, electrical and optical properties of ZnO grown by MOCVD at different substrate temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ievtushenko, A.; Karpyna, V.; Eriksson, J.; Tsiaoussis, I.; Shtepliuk, I.; Lashkarev, G.; Yakimova, R.; Khranovskyy, V.

2018-05-01

ZnO films and nanostructures were deposited on Si substrates by MOCVD using single source solid state zinc acetylacetonate (Zn(AA)) precursor. Doping by silver was realized in-situ via adding 1 and 10 wt. % of Ag acetylacetonate (Ag(AA)) to zinc precursor. Influence of Ag on the microstructure, electrical and optical properties of ZnO at temperature range 220-550 °C was studied by scanning, transmission electron and Kelvin probe force microscopy, photoluminescence and four-point probe electrical measurements. Ag doping affects the ZnO microstructure via changing the nucleation mode into heterogeneous and thus transforming the polycrystalline films into a matrix of highly c-axis textured hexagonally faceted nanorods. Increase of the work function value from 4.45 to 4.75 eV was observed with Ag content increase, which is attributed to Ag behaviour as a donor impurity. It was observed, that near-band edge emission of ZnO NS was enhanced with Ag doping as a result of quenching deep-level emission. Upon high doping of ZnO by Ag it tends to promote the formation of basal plane stacking faults defect, as it was observed by HR TEM and PL study in the case of 10 wt.% of Ag. Based on the results obtained, it is suggested that NS deposition at lower temperatures (220-300 °C) is more favorable for p-type doping of ZnO.

ZnO/CdS bi-layer nanostructures photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dalal, Paresh V., E-mail: paresh10dalal@gmail.com; Deshpande, Milind P., E-mail: vishwadeshpande@yahoo.co.in; Solanki, Bharat G., E-mail: bhrt.solanki17@gmail.com

2016-05-06

Simple chemical deposition method for the synthesis of ZnO/CdS bilayer photoelectrode on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate in aqueous medium at low temperature (< 373K) is described. The different preparative parameters such as deposition time, bath temperature, concentration of precursor solution and, pH of the bath etc. were optimized. Nanograined ZnO was deposited on FTO coated glass substrates by dip-coating method, whereas CdS nanorods were successfully synthesized on pre-deposited ZnO film by Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) method. The Photovoltaic properties of FTO/ZnO/CdS bilayer photo electrodes were also studied. A maximum short circuit current density of 9.1 mA cm-2more » and conversion efficiency 1.05% are observed for ZnO/CdS-10min. Layer, which supports fast electron injection kinetics due to hetero structured nanorod, while minimum values of 0.53mA cm-2 and 0.01% respectively are observed for only ZnO deposited layer.« less

Growth of CdZnTe Crystals the Bridgman Technique with Controlled Overpressures of Cd

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Su, Ching-Hu; Lehoczky, S. L.

2008-01-01

Cd(1-x)Zn(x)Te crystals with x = 0.15 and 0.20, were grown in this study by closed-ampoule directional solidification (Bridgman) technique with a controlled Cd overpressure. The growth ampoule was made of quartz with inner diameter from 20 to 40 mm and a tapered length of 2.5 cm at the growth tip. Both unseeded and seeded growths were performed with total material charges up to 400 g. After the loading of starting CdZnTe material, a typical amount of 2 g of Cd was also loaded inside a Cd reservoir basket, which was attached beneath the seal-off cup. The ampoule was sealed off under a vacuum below lxl0(exp -5) Torr. The sealed ampoule was placed inside a 4-zone Bridgman furnace - a Cd reservoir zone with a heat-pipe furnace liner on the top, followed by a hot zone, a booster heating zone and a cold zone at the bottom. The Cd zone was typically 300 to 400 C below the hot zone setting. High resistivity material has been obtained without any intentional dopants but has been reproducibly obtained with In doping. The crystalline and the electrical properties of the crystals will be reported.

Tailoring the Hydrothermal Synthesis of Stainless Steel Wire Sieve-Supported Ag-Doped ZnO Nanowires to Optimize Their Photo-catalytic Activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jing, W. X.; Shi, J. F.; Xu, Z. P.; Jiang, Z. D.; Wei, Z. Y.; Zhou, F.; Wu, Q.; Cui, Q. B.

2018-03-01

Batches of un-doped and Ag-doped ZnO nanowires (ZnONWs) were prepared hydrothermally on stainless steel wire sieves at varied Zn2+ concentrations of the growth solution and at different Ag+ concentrations of the silver nitrate solution. Methylene blue solution was degraded with these as-prepared ZnONWs in the presences of ultraviolet irradiation. It is found that both the processing parameters greatly affect the surface textures, wettability, and photo-activity of the ZnONWs. The latter synthesizing parameter is optimized only after the former one has been finely regulated. The un-doped and Ag-doped ZnONWs at Zn2+ concentration of 75 mM of the growth solution and at Ag+ concentration of3 mM of the silver nitrate solution both produce Gaussian rough surfaces and in each batch are most hydrophilic. Therefore, in the related batch the contacting surface area of the catalyst is the largest, the hydroxyl radicals attached on the top ends of corresponding ZnONWs the most, and the catalytic activity of these catalysts the optimal. Besides these, the latter synthesizing parameter affects the photo-activity of Ag-doped ZnONWs more significantly than the former one does that of un-doped ZnONWs.

Obtaining Large Columnar CdTe Grains and Long Lifetime on CdSe, MgZnO, or CdS Layers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Amarasinghe, Mahisha; Colegrove, Eric M; Moseley, John

CdTe solar cells have reached efficiencies comparable to multicrystalline silicon and produce electricity at costs competitive with traditional energy sources. Recent efficiency gains have come partly from shifting from the traditional CdS window layer to new materials such as CdSe and MgZnO, yet substantial headroom still exists to improve performance. Thin film technologies including Cu(In,Ga)Se2, perovskites, Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4, and CdTe inherently have many grain boundaries that can form recombination centers and impede carrier transport; however, grain boundary engineering has been difficult and not practical. In this work, it is demonstrated that wide columnar grains reaching through the entire CdTe layer canmore » be achieved by aggressive postdeposition CdTe recrystallization. This reduces the grain structure constraints imposed by nucleation on nanocrystalline window layers and enables diverse window layers to be selected for other properties critical for electro-optical applications. Computational simulations indicate that increasing grain size from 1 to 7 um can be equivalent to decreasing grain-boundary recombination velocity by three orders of magnitude. Here, large high-quality grains enable CdTe lifetimes exceeding 50 ns.« less

Optical transmission larger than 1 (T>1) through ZnS -SiO2/AgOx/ZnS-SiO2 sandwiched thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Jingsong; Xiao, Mufei

2006-09-01

Optical transmission through flat media should be smaller than 1. However, we have observed optical transmission up to T =1.18. The samples were ZnS -SiO2/AgOx/ZnS-SiO2 sandwiched thin films on glass substrate. The supertransmission could only be observed in the near field. We attribute the supertransmission to the lateral propagation relayed by the laser activated and decomposed Ag nanoparticles.

Calcium uptake in aquatic insects: influences of phylogeny and metals (Cd and Zn).

PubMed

Poteat, Monica D; Buchwalter, David B

2014-04-01

Calcium sequestration in the hypo-osmotic freshwater environment is imperative in maintaining calcium homeostasis in freshwater aquatic organisms. This uptake process is reported to have the unintended consequence of potentially toxic heavy metal (Cd, Zn) uptake in a variety of aquatic species. However, calcium uptake remains poorly understood in aquatic insects, the dominant invertebrate faunal group in most freshwater ecosystems. Here, we examined Ca uptake and interactions with heavy metals (Cd, Zn) at low ambient Ca levels (12.5 μmol l(-1)) in 12 aquatic insect species within Ephemerellidae (mayfly) and Hydropsychidae (caddisfly), two families differentially responsive to trace metal pollution. We found Ca uptake varied 70-fold across the 12 species studied. Body mass and clade (family) were found to significantly influence both Ca uptake and adsorption (P≤0.05). Zn and Cd uptake rate constants (ku) exhibited a strong correlation (r=0.96, P<0.0001), suggesting a shared transport system. Ca uptake failed to significantly correlate with either Zn or Cd ku values. Further, neither Zn nor Cd exhibited inhibitory effects toward Ca uptake. In fact, we saw evidence of modest stimulation of Ca uptake rates in some metal treatments. This work suggests that insects generally differ from other freshwater taxa in that aqueous Ca uptake does not appear to be compromised by Cd or Zn exposure. It is important to understand the trace metal and major ion physiology of aquatic insects because of their ecological importance and widespread use as ecological indicators.

Synthesis, characterization, and chiral properties of CoIII2AgI3 pentanuclear, CoIII4ZnII4 octanuclear, and CoIII mononuclear complexes with aza-capped hexadentate-N3S3 thiolate ligands: crystal structures of.

PubMed

Tokuda, K; Okamoto, K; Konno, T

2000-01-24

The reaction of an S-bridged Co2(III)Ag3(I) pentanuclear complex, [Ag3[Co(aet)3]2][BF4]3 (aet = NH2CH2CH2S-), with paraformaldehyde in basic acetonitrile, followed by adding aqueous ammonia, produced an aza-capped Co2(III)-Ag3(I) complex, [Ag3[Co(L)]2]3+ ([1]3+) (L = N(CH2NHCH2CH2S-)3). The crystal structure of [1]3+ was determined by X-ray crystallography. [1][PF6]3 x H2O, empirical formula C18H44Ag3Co2F18N8OP3S6, crystallizes in the tetragonal space group 142m with a = 13.012(1) A, c = 24.707(2) A, and Z = 4. In [1]3+ the two aza-capped [Co(L)] units are linked by three Ag(I) atoms, such that the two Co(III) atoms are encapsulated in a macrobicyclic metallocage, [Ag3(I)(L)2]3-. [1]3+ was converted to an aza-capped Co4(III)Zn4(II) octanuclear complex, [Zn4O[Co(L)]4]6+ ([2]6+), by reaction with I- in the presence of Zn2+ and ZnO in water. The crystal structure of [2]6+ was also determined by X-ray crystallography. [2][PF6]6 x 8H2O, empirical formula C36H100Co4F36N16O9P6S12Zn4, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1/n) with a = 14.33(7) A, b = 25.67(10) A, c = 24.83(6) A, beta = 101.3(3) degrees , and Z = 4. In [2]6+ each of four [Co(L)] units is bound to each trigonal Zn3(II) face of the tetrahedral [Zn4(II)O]6+ core, such that each Co(III) atom is encapsulated in a macrobicyclic [Zn4(II)O(L)] fragment. Treatment of [2]6+ with a basic aqueous solution resulted in a cleavage of the Zn-S bonds to produce an aza-capped Co(III) mononuclear complex, [Co(L)] ([3]), from which [1]3+ is readily reproduced by the reaction with Ag+ in water. All the reactions were found to proceed with retention of the absolute configuration (delta or lambda) of the Co(III) chiral centers; deltadelta-[1]3+, deltadeltadeltadelta-[2]6+, and A-[3] were derived from deltadelta-[Ag3[Co(aet)3]2]3+. The contributions to circular dichroism (CD) from the triple helicity in [1]3+, besides from the asymmetric N and S donor atoms and the Co(III) chiral centers in [1]3+ and [2]6+, were estimated

Linear and nonlinear optical discussions of nanostructured Zn-doped CdO thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yahia, I. S.; Salem, G. F.; Iqbal, Javed; Yakuphanoglu, F.

2017-04-01

Here, we report the doping effect of zinc (Zn) on the physical properties of cadmium oxide (CdO) at various concentrations (1, 2, 3 and 4 wt% of Zn). The studied samples were prepared using sol-gel in addition with sol gel spin coating technique. The structural, optical and dispersive properties were compared with the already reported work in the literature. The structural properties were observed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM images show that the grain size decreases with increasing the concentration of Zn. The highest value of average cluster size (78. 71 nm) was found at 1% and the lowest (60.23 nm) when the doping concentration of Zn was 4%. Similar trend was observed in the roughness of the doped thin film when the Zn concentration was increased. The optical properties were examined using Shimadzu UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer and we found that the optical band gap of the un-doped CdO and the Zn-doped CdO thin films increases from 2.54 to 2.62 eV as the Zn concentration is increased from 1% to 4%. Also, the optical dispersion parameters (Eo, Ed, n2∞, λ0 and So) were calculated and discussed. We observed that the refractive index dispersion of undoped CdO and the Zn-doped CdO thin films follow the single oscillator model. Finally, spectroscopic method has been exploited to analyze the 3rd order non-linear optical susceptibility χ (3) and nonlinear refractive index n (2).

Resistivity dependence on Zn concentration in semi-insulating (Cd,Zn)Te

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fiederle, Michael; Fauler, Alex; Babentsov, Vladimir N.; Franc, Jan; Benz, Klaus Werner

2003-01-01

The resistivity dependence on Zn concentration had been investigated in semi-insulating (Cd,Zn)Te crystals grown by the vertical Bridgman method. A coorelation between the zinc concentration and the resistivity distribution could be found. The obtained resistivity was in the interval of 2 ×109-1010 Ω cm as expected from the model of compensation. The main deep compensating levels detected by Photo Induced Current Transient Spectroscopy (PICTS) were at 0.64 +/- 0.02 eV and close the middle of the band gap at 0.80 +/- 0.02 eV.

High performance and reusable SERS substrates using Ag/ZnO heterostructure on periodic silicon nanotube substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Yi-Chen; Ho, Hsin-Chia; Shih, Bo-Wei; Tsai, Feng-Yu; Hsueh, Chun-Hway

2018-05-01

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate with a higher surface area, enhanced light harvesting, multiple hot spots and strong electromagnetic field enhancements would exhibit enhanced Raman signals. Herein, the Ag nanoparticle/ZnO nanowire heterostructure decorated periodic silicon nanotube (Ag@ZnO@SiNT) substrate was proposed and fabricated. The proposed structure employed as SERS-active substrate was examined, and the results showed both the high performance in terms of high sensitivity and good reproducibility. Furthermore, the Ag@ZnO@SiNT substrate demonstrated the self-cleaning performance through the photocatalytic degradation of probed molecules upon UV-irradiation. The results showed that the proposed nanostructure had high performance, good reproducibility and reusability, and it is a promising SERS-active substrate for molecular sensing and cleaning.

Aqueous synthesis of high bright and tunable near-infrared AgInSe2-ZnSe quantum dots for bioimaging.

PubMed

Che, Dongchen; Zhu, Xiaoxu; Wang, Hongzhi; Duan, Yourong; Zhang, Qinghong; Li, Yaogang

2016-02-01

Efficient synthetic methods for near-infrared quantum dots with good biophysical properties as bioimaging agents are urgently required. In this work, a simple and fast synthesis of highly luminescent, near-infrared AgInSe2-ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) with tunable emissions in aqueous media is reported. This method avoids high temperature and pressure and organic solvents to directly generate water-dispersible AgInSe2-ZnSe QDs. The photoluminescence emission peak of the AgInSe2-ZnSe QDs ranged from 625 to 940nm, with quantum yields up to 31%. The AgInSe2-ZnSe QDs with high quantum yield, near-infrared and low cytotoxic could be used as good cell labels, showing great potential applications in bio-imaging. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optical Properties of ZnCdS:I Orange and ZnSTe:I White Thin Film Phosphor for High Ra White LED

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujii, Satoshi; Tasaki, Norio; Shinomura, Naohiko; Kurai, Satoshi; Yamada, Yoichi; Taguchi, Tsunemasa

In order to develop visible thin film phosphors, we have for the first time prepared ZnCdS and ZnSTe doped with Iodine (I) using low-pressure MOCVD method. ZnCdS:I, of which Cd composition was calibrated to match the lattice constant to that of substrate and the band gap to absorption peak, showed a orange broad emission consist of yellow near band edge emission and red SA emission. Isoelectronic Te in ZnS indicates strong blue-green emissions, whilst I donor impurity in ZnS shows strong red SA emissions. A typical ZnSTe:I thin film shows two broad emission bands locating at around 500 and 680 nm, respectively, indicating Ra˜90. It was shown that high Ra thin film phosphor can be realized by single material (ZnSTe:I), and that MOCVD method is capable for controlling the thickness and doping profile to obtain uniform white emission pattern.

Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/ZnO: An efficient visible-light-sensitized composite with its application in photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Wei; School of Chemistry and Material Science, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000; Wang, Mingliang, E-mail: wangmlchem@263.net

2013-01-15

Graphical abstract: The free OH radicals generated in the VB of ZnO play the primary role in the visible-light photocatalytic degradation of RhB in Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/ZnO system. The accumulated electrons in the CB of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} can be transferred to O{sub 2} adsorbed on the surface of the composite semiconductors and H{sub 2}O{sub 2} yields. H{sub 2}O{sub 2} reacts with electrons in succession to produce active ·OH to some extent. Display Omitted Highlights: ► Efficient visible-light-sensitized Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/ZnO composites were successfully prepared. ► Effect of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} content on the catalytic activity of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/ZnOmore » is studied in detail. ► Rate constant of RhB degradation over Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}(3.0 wt.%)/ZnO is 3 times that of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}. ► The active species in RhB degradation are examined by adding a series of scavengers. ► Visible light degradation mechanism of RhB over Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/ZnO is systematically studied. -- Abstract: The efficient visible-light-sensitized Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/ZnO composites with various weight percents of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} were prepared by a facile ball milling method. The photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, DRS, SEM, EDS, XPS, and BET specific area. The ·OH radicals produced during the photocatalytic reaction was detected by the TA–PL technique. The photocatalytic property of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}/ZnO was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. Significantly, the results revealed that the photocatalytic activity of the composites was much higher than that of pure Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} and ZnO. The rate constant of RhB degradation over Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}(3.0 wt.%)/ZnO is 3 times that of single-phase Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4}. The optimal percentage of Ag{sub 3}PO{sub 4} in the composite is 3.0 wt.%. It is proposed that the ·OH radicals produced in the valence band of ZnO play the leading role in the photocatalytic

Ag2S/CdS/TiO2 Nanotube Array Films with High Photocurrent Density by Spotting Sample Method.

PubMed

Sun, Hong; Zhao, Peini; Zhang, Fanjun; Liu, Yuliang; Hao, Jingcheng

2015-12-01

Ag2S/CdS/TiO2 hybrid nanotube array films (Ag2S/CdS/TNTs) were prepared by selectively depositing a narrow-gap semiconductor-Ag2S (0.9 eV) quantum dots (QDs)-in the local domain of the CdS/TiO2 nanotube array films by spotting sample method (SSM). The improvement of sunlight absorption ability and photocurrent density of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube array films (TNTs) which were obtained by anodic oxidation method was realized because of modifying semiconductor QDs. The CdS/TNTs, Ag2S/TNTs, and Ag2S/CdS/TNTs fabricated by uniformly depositing the QDs into the TNTs via the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method were synthesized, respectively. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) results demonstrated that the Ag2S/CdS/TNTs prepared by SSM and other films were successfully prepared. In comparison with the four films of TNTs, CdS/TNTs, Ag2S/TNTs, and Ag2S/CdS/TNTs by SILAR, the Ag2S/CdS/TNTs prepared by SSM showed much better absorption capability and the highest photocurrent density in UV-vis range (320~800 nm). The cycles of local deposition have great influence on their photoelectric properties. The photocurrent density of Ag2S/CdS/TNTs by SSM with optimum deposition cycles of 6 was about 37 times that of TNTs without modification, demonstrating their great prospective applications in solar energy utilization fields.

Novel optical properties of CdS:Zn rocksalt system (a theoretical study)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, M. Junaid Iqbal; Nauman Usmani, M.; Kanwal, Zarfishan

2017-11-01

In present computational study, we focus on optical properties of Zn doped CdS for 1  ×  1  ×  2 and 2  ×  2  ×  2 supercell configurations. Cd atoms are substituted with Zn atoms and results for optical properties demonstrate different trends due to interaction of Zn with S atoms. The study has been performed by PBE-GGA approach using Wien2K within framework of DFT. TDOS and PDOS represent that S-3p states are responsible for conduction. For large supercell configuration, a tremendous change in optical properties has been observed due to different bonding. Optical absorption tends to increase in visible range which supports candidacy of Zn doped CdS for enhanced optoelectronic and nanotechnology applications.

Ag nanoparticle-ZnO nanowire hybrid nanostructures as enhanced and robust antimicrobial textiles via a green chemical approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhou; Tang, Haoying; Yuan, Weiwei; Song, Wei; Niu, Yongshan; Yan, Ling; Yu, Min; Dai, Ming; Feng, Siyu; Wang, Menghang; Liu, Tengjiao; Jiang, Peng; Fan, Yubo; Wang, Zhong Lin

2014-04-01

A new approach for fabrication of a long-term and recoverable antimicrobial nanostructure/textile hybrid without increasing the antimicrobial resistance is demonstrated. Using in situ synthesized Ag nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on ZnO nanowires (NWs) grown on textiles by a ‘dip-in and light-irradiation’ green chemical method, we obtained ZnONW@AgNP nanocomposites with small-size and uniform Ag NPs, which have shown superior performance for antibacterial applications. These new Ag/ZnO/textile antimicrobial composites can be used for wound dressings and medical textiles for topical and prophylactic antibacterial treatments, point-of-use water treatment to improve the cleanliness of water and antimicrobial air filters to prevent bioaerosols accumulating in ventilation, heating, and air-conditioning systems.

Facile preparation and characterization of ZnCdS nanocrystals for interfacial applications in photovoltaic devices.

PubMed

Duan, Chenghao; Luo, Weining; Jiu, Tonggang; Li, Jiangsheng; Wang, Yao; Lu, Fushen

2018-02-15

Recently, ZnCdS nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted intense attention because of their specific optical properties and electrical characteristics. In this paper, a green and facile solution method is reported for the preparation of ZnCdS nanocrystals using dimethylsulfoxide as small molecular ligands. The ZnCdS nanocrystals are used as an interface modification material in the photovoltaic devices. It is found that the modification of ZnCdS on TiO 2 surface not only suppresses the recombination loss of carriers but also reduces the series resistance of TiO 2 /active layer. Consequently, both of the short circuit current (J sc ) and the fill factor (FF) of the solar cells were significantly improved. Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.75% based on TiO 2 /ZnCdS was achieved in contrast to 6.65% of the reference devices based on pure TiO 2 film in organic solar cells. Furthermore, the PCE of perovskite solar cells based on TiO 2 /ZnCdS was observed with 8.3% enhancement compared to that of pure TiO 2 -based ones. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

SERS-active ZnO/Ag hybrid WGM microcavity for ultrasensitive dopamine detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Junfeng; Xu, Chunxiang; Nan, Haiyan; Zhu, Qiuxiang; Qin, Feifei; Manohari, A. Gowri; Wei, Ming; Zhu, Zhu; Shi, Zengliang; Ni, Zhenhua

2016-08-01

Dopamine (DA) is a potential neuro modulator in the brain which influences a variety of motivated behaviors and plays a key role in life science. A hybrid ZnO/Ag microcavity based on Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) effect has been developed for ultrasensitive detection of dopamine. Utilizing this effect of structural cavity mode, a Raman signal of R6G (5 × 10-3 M) detected by this designed surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-active substrate was enhanced more than 10-fold compared with that of ZnO film/Ag substrate. Also, this hybrid microcavity substrate manifests high SERS sensitivity to rhodamine 6 G and detection limit as low as 10-12 M to DA. The Localized Surface Plasmons of Ag nanoparticles and WGM-enhanced light-matter interaction mainly contribute to the high SERS sensitivity and help to achieve a lower detection limit. This designed SERS-active substrate based on the WGM effect has the potential for detecting neurotransmitters in life science.

Synthesis and properties of Ag/ZnO/g-C3N4 ternary micro/nano composites by microwave-assisted method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zijie; Li, Xuexue; Chen, Haitao; Shao, Gang; Zhang, Rui; Lu, Hongxia

2018-01-01

Ag/ZnO/g-C3N4 ternary micro/nanocomposites, as novel visible-light-driven photocatalysts, were prepared by a simple and convenient microwave-assisted method. The resulting ternary structure micro/nano composites were characterized by x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and infrared radiation techniques to examine its phase structure, valence state, morphological, thermal and optical properties. Well crystallized Ag/ZnO/g-C3N4 ternary micro/nano composites were synthesized under microwave-radiation for 15 min with the output of 240 W. Further experiments indicated Ag(5.0mol%)/ZnO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst in degradation of methylene blue exhibited an outstanding photocatalytic activity and its reaction rate constant (k, 0.0084 min-1) is 7.5, 2.4 2.9 and 3.5 times higher than that of monolithic ZnO (k, 0.0011 min-1), ZnO/g-C3N4(k, 0.0035 min-1), Ag(5 mol%)/ZnO(k, 0.0029 min-1) and Ag(5mol%)/g-C3N4 (k, 0.0024 min-1) respectively. Finally, a possible photocatalytic mechanism of Ag/ZnO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst in degradation process was proposed. This work provides a feasible strategy to synthesize an efficient ZnO-based photocatalyst which combines structure and properties of different dimensional components and made this ternary system an exciting candidate for sunlight-driven photocatalytic water treatment.

Noise in CdZnTe detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Luke, P. N.; Amman, M.; Lee J. S.

2000-10-10

Noise in CdZnTe devices with different electrode configurations was investigated. Measurements on devices with guard-ring electrode structures showed that surface leakage current does not produce any significant noise. The parallel white noise component of the devices appeared to be generated by the bulk current alone, even though the surface current was substantially higher. This implies that reducing the surface leakage current of a CdZnTe detector may not necessarily result in a significant improvement in noise performance. The noise generated by the bulk current is also observed to be below full shot noise. This partial suppression of shot noise may bemore » the result of Coulomb interaction between carriers or carrier trapping. Devices with coplanar strip electrodes were observed to produce a 1/f noise term at the preamplifier output. Higher levels of this 1/f noise were observed with decreasing gap widths between electrodes. The level of this 1/f noise appeared to be independent of bias voltage and leakage current but was substantially reduced after certain surface treatments.« less

Contactless electroreflectance study of strained Zn0.79Cd0.21Se/ZnSe double quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tu, R. C.; Su, Y. K.; Lin, D. Y.; Li, C. F.; Huang, Y. S.; Lan, W. H.; Tu, S. L.; Chang, S. J.; Chou, S. C.; Chou, W. C.

1998-01-01

We have studied various excitonic transitions of strained Zn0.79Cd0.21Se/ZnSe double quantum wells, grown by molecular beam epitaxy on (100) GaAs substrates, using contactless electroreflectance (CER) at 15 and 300 K. A number of intersub-band transitions in the CER spectra from the sample have been observed. An analysis of the CER spectra has led to the identification of various excitonic transitions, mnH(L), between the mth conduction band state and the nth heavy (light)-hole band state. The conduction-band offset Qc is used as an adjustable parameter to study the band offset in the strained Zn0.79Cd0.21Se/ZnSe system. The value of Qc is determined to be 0.67±0.03.

Subcellular compartmentalization of Cd and Zn in two bivalves. II. Significance of trophically available metal (TAM)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wallace, W.G.; Luoma, S.N.

2003-01-01

This paper examines how the subcellular partitioning of Cd and Zn in the bivalves Macoma balthica and Potamocorbula amurensis may affect the trophic transfer of metal to predators. Results show that the partitioning of metals to organelles, 'enzymes' and metallothioneins (MT) comprise a subcellular compartment containing trophically available metal (TAM; i.e. metal trophically available to predators), and that because this partitioning varies with species, animal size and metal, TAM is similarly influenced. Clams from San Francisco Bay, California, were exposed for 14 d to 3.5 ??g 1-1 Cd and 20.5 ??g 1-1 Zn, including 109Cd and 65Zn as radiotracers, and were used in feeding experiments with grass shrimp Palaemon macrodatylus, or used to investigate the subcellular partitioning of metal. Grass shrimp fed Cd-contaminated P. amurensis absorbed ???60% of ingested Cd, which was in accordance with the partitioning of Cd to the bivalve's TAM compartment (i.e. Cd associated with organelles, 'enzymes' and MT); a similar relationship was found in previous studies with grass shrimp fed Cd-contaminated oligochaetes. Thus, TAM may be used as a tool to predict the trophic transfer of at least Cd. Subcellular fractionation revealed that ???34% of both the Cd and Zn accumulated by M. balthica was associated with TAM, while partitioning to TAM in P. amurensis was metal-dependent (???60% for TAM-Cd%, ???73% for TAM-Zn%). The greater TAM-Cd% of P. amurensis than M. balthica is due to preferential binding of Cd to MT and 'enzymes', while enhanced TAM-Zn% of P. amurensis results from a greater binding of Zn to organelles. TAM for most species-metal combinations was size-dependent, decreasing with increased clam size. Based on field data, it is estimated that of the 2 bivalves, P. amurensis poses the greater threat of Cd exposure to predators because of higher tissue concentrations and greater partitioning as TAM; exposure of Zn to predators would be similar between these species.

Coexistence of bipolar and unipolar resistive switching behaviors in the double-layer Ag/ZnS-Ag/CuAlO2/Pt memory device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Xu, Haiyang; Wang, Zhongqiang; Yu, Hao; Ma, Jiangang; Liu, Yichun

2016-01-01

The coexistence of uniform bipolar and unipolar resistive-switching (RS) characteristics was demonstrated in a double-layer Ag/ZnS-Ag/CuAlO2/Pt memory device. By changing the compliance current (CC) from 1 mA to 10 mA, the RS behavior can be converted from the bipolar mode (BRS) to the unipolar mode (URS). The temperature dependence of low resistance states further indicates that the CFs are composed of the Ag atoms and Cu vacancies for the BRS mode and URS mode, respectively. For this double-layer structure device, the thicker conducting filaments (CFs) will be formed in the ZnS-Ag layer, and it can act as tip electrodes. Thus, the formation and rupture of these two different CFs are located in the CuAlO2 layer, realizing the uniform and stable BRS and URS.

Synthesis of a ternary Ag/RGO/ZnO nanocomposite via microwave irradiation and its application for the degradation of Rhodamine B under visible light.

PubMed

Surendran, Divya Kollikkara; Xavier, Marilyn Mary; Viswanathan, Vandana Parakkal; Mathew, Suresh

2017-06-01

Reduced graphene oxide supporting plasmonic photocatalyst (Ag) on ZnO has been synthesized via a facile two-step microwave synthesis using RGO/ZnO and AgNO 3 . First step involves fabrication of RGO/ZnO via microwave irradiation. The nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Ag/RGO/ZnO shows enhanced photoactivity under visible light for the degradation of Rhodamine B. Enhanced charge separation and migration have been assigned using UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photoluminescence spectra, electrochemical impedance spectra, and TCSPC analysis. The improved photoactivity of Ag/RGO/ZnO can be ascribed to the prolonged lifetime of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and effective interfacial hybridization between RGO and Ag with ZnO nanoparticles. Ag nanoparticles can absorb visible light via surface plasmon resonance to enhance photocatalytic activity.

Sandwiched ZnO@Au@CdS nanorod arrays with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytical performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Shoutian; Wang, Yingying; Fan, Guanghua; Gao, Renxi; Liu, Wenjun

2017-11-01

The development of high-performance photocatalysts is central to efforts focused on taking advantage of solar energy to overcome environmental and energy crises. Integrating different functional materials artfully into nanostructures can deliver more efficient photocatalytic activity. Here, sandwiched ZnO@Au@CdS nanorod films were synthesized via successive ZnO nanorod electrodeposition, Au sputtering and CdS electrodeposition. The as-synthesized composites were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer, x-ray diffractometer, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Their photocatalytic activity was assessed by degrading Rhodamine B solution under visible light irradiation. ZnO@Au@CdS exhibited better photocatalytic performance than ZnO@CdS throughout the visible light region, and the corresponding enhancement factor of Au nanoparticles was measured as a function of CdS loading amount, and it could reach 190% with CdS deposition for 1 min. The normalized rate constant could reach 0.387 h-1 for ZnO@Au@CdS-1min, which was equivalent to or better than results in reference photocatalysts. The enhancement mechanism of Au nanoparticles was estimated by comparing the monochromatic photocatalytic action spectra with the absorption spectrum of ZnO@Au@CdS, and it was mainly determined by incident photon energy. With selective excitation of Au nanoparticles by incident photons, the excited hot electrons in Au NPs are transferred to the conduction band of ZnO to boost photocatalytic reaction. With selective excitation of CdS, the enhanced interband absorption of CdS and relay station effect of Au nanoparticles should be responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic performance. Our work not only opens the door to the design of efficient supported photocatalysts, but also helps to understand the enhancement mechanism of LSPR effect on the photoelectric conversion of semiconductors.

Synthesis of Ag-ZnO with multiple rods (multipods) morphology and its application in the simultaneous photo-catalytic degradation of methyl orange and methylene blue.

PubMed

Arab Chamjangali, M; Bagherian, G; Javid, A; Boroumand, S; Farzaneh, N

2015-11-05

In this study, the photo-decolorization of a mixture of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) was investigated using Ag-ZnO multipods. The photo-catalyst used, ZnO multipods, was successfully synthesized. The surface of ZnO microstructure was modified by deposition of different amounts of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using the photo-reduction method. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The photo-catalytic efficiency of Ag-ZnO is mainly controlled by the amount of Ag NPs deposited on the ZnO surface. The results obtained suggest that Ag-ZnO containing 6.5% Ag NPs, has the highest photo-catalytic performance in the simultaneous photo-degradation of dyes at a shorter time. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ionic liquid-assisted photochemical synthesis of ZnO/Ag2O heterostructures with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Shuo; Zhang, Yiwei; Zhou, Yuming; Zhang, Chao; Fang, Jiasheng; Sheng, Xiaoli

2017-07-01

ZnO/Ag2O heterostructures have been successfully fabricated using ionic liquids (ILs) as templates by a simple photochemical route. The influence of the type of ionic liquid and synthetic method on the morphology of ZnO, as well as the photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), tetracycline (TC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation was studied. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, PL and UV-vis DRS. The results established that the type of ionic liquid and synthetic method played an important role in the growth of ZnO nanoparticles. And as-fabricated ZnO/Ag2O materials exhibited self-assembled flower-like architecture whose size was about 3 μm. Moreover, as-prepared ZnO/Ag2O exhibited the enhanced photocatalytic activity than ZnO sample, which may be due to the special structure, heterojunction, enhanced adsorption capability of dye, the improved separation rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. According to the results of radical trapping experiments, it can be found that •OH and h+ were the main active species for the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. It is valuable to develop this facile route preparing the highly dispersive flower-like ZnO/Ag2O materials, which can be beneficial for environmental protection.

MBE Growth of HgCdTe on Large-Area Si and CdZnTe Wafers for SWIR, MWIR and LWIR Detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reddy, M.; Peterson, J. M.; Lofgreen, D. D.; Franklin, J. A.; Vang, T.; Smith, E. P. G.; Wehner, J. G. A.; Kasai, I.; Bangs, J. W.; Johnson, S. M.

2008-09-01

Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth of HgCdTe on large-size Si (211) and CdZnTe (211)B substrates is critical to meet the demands of extremely uniform and highly functional third-generation infrared (IR) focal-panel arrays (FPAs). We have described here the importance of wafer maps of HgCdTe thickness, composition, and the macrodefects across the wafer not only to qualify material properties against design specifications but also to diagnose and classify the MBE-growth-related issues on large-area wafers. The paper presents HgCdTe growth with exceptionally uniform composition and thickness and record low macrodefect density on large Si wafers up to 6-in in diameter for the detection of short-wave (SW), mid-wave (MW), and long-wave (LW) IR radiation. We have also proposed a cost-effective approach to use the growth of HgCdTe on low-cost Si substrates to isolate the growth- and substrate-related problems that one occasionally comes across with the CdZnTe substrates and tune the growth parameters such as growth rate, cutoff wavelength ( λ cutoff) and doping parameters before proceeding with the growth on costly large-area CdZnTe substrates. In this way, we demonstrated HgCdTe growth on large CdZnTe substrates of size 7 cm × 7 cm with excellent uniformity and low macrodefect density.

19.5%-Efficient CuIn1-xGaxSe2 Photovoltaic Cells Using A Cd-Zn-S Buffer Layer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bhattacharya. R. N.

2008-01-01

CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) solar cell junctions prepared by chemical-bath-deposited (CBD) Zn1-xCdxS (CdZnS), ZnS, and CdS buffer layers are discussed. A 19.52%-efficient, CIGS-based, thin-film photovoltaic device has been fabricated using a single-layer CBD CdZnS buffer layer. The mechanism that creates extensive hydroxide and oxide impurities in CBD-ZnS and CBD-CdZnS thin films (compared to CBD-CdS thin film) is presented.

Acute Toxicity of Ternary Cd-Cu-Ni and Cd-Ni-Zn Mixtures to Daphnia magna: Dominant Metal Pairs Change along a Concentration Gradient.

PubMed

Traudt, Elizabeth M; Ranville, James F; Meyer, Joseph S

2017-04-18

Multiple metals are usually present in surface waters, sometimes leading to toxicity that currently is difficult to predict due to potentially non-additive mixture toxicity. Previous toxicity tests with Daphnia magna exposed to binary mixtures of Ni combined with Cd, Cu, or Zn demonstrated that Ni and Zn strongly protect against Cd toxicity, but Cu-Ni toxicity is more than additive, and Ni-Zn toxicity is slightly less than additive. To consider multiple metal-metal interactions, we exposed D. magna neonates to Cd, Cu, Ni, or Zn alone and in ternary Cd-Cu-Ni and Cd-Ni-Zn combinations in standard 48 h lethality tests. In these ternary mixtures, two metals were held constant, while the third metal was varied through a series that ranged from nonlethal to lethal concentrations. In Cd-Cu-Ni mixtures, the toxicity was less than additive, additive, or more than additive, depending on the concentration (or ion activity) of the varied metal and the additivity model (concentration-addition or independent-action) used to predict toxicity. In Cd-Ni-Zn mixtures, the toxicity was less than additive or approximately additive, depending on the concentration (or ion activity) of the varied metal but independent of the additivity model. These results demonstrate that complex interactions of potentially competing toxicity-controlling mechanisms can occur in ternary-metal mixtures but might be predicted by mechanistic bioavailability-based toxicity models.

Effect of Ag and Cu Contents on the Age Hardning Behavior of Al-Zn-Mg Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Katsumi; Kawabata, Tokimasa; Ikeno, Susumu; Yoshida, Tomoo; Murakami, Satoshi; Matsuda, Kenji

Al-Zn-Mg alloy has been known as one of the aluminum alloys with the good age-hardening ability and the high strength among commercial aluminum alloys. The mechanical property of the limited ductility, however, is required to further improvement. In this work, three alloys, which were added Cu or Ag into the Al-Zn-Mg-Si alloy, were prepared to compare the effect of the additional elements on the aging behavior. The content of Ag and Cu were 0.2 at.% and 0.2at.%, respectively. The age-hardening behavior and microstructures of those alloys were investigated by hardness measurement, high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) technique. Ag or Cu added alloy showed higher peak hardness than Ag or Cu free alloy. According to addition of Ag or Cu, the number density of the precipitates increased than Ag or Cu free alloy.

Electrochemical route to the synthesis of ZnO microstructures: its nestlike structure and holding of Ag particles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Ling; Zhang, Ruixue; Fan, Louzhen

2013-02-01

A simple and facile electrochemical route was developed for the shape-selective synthesis of large-scaled series of ZnO microstructures, including petal, flower, sphere, nest and clew aggregates of ZnO laminas at room temperature. This route is based on sodium citrate-directed crystallization. In the system, sodium citrate can greatly promote ZnO to nucleate and directly grow by selectively capping the specific ZnO facets because of its excellent adsorption ability. The morphology of ZnO is tuned by readily adjusting the concentration of sodium citrate and the electrodeposition time. Among the series structures, the remarkable ZnO nestlike structure can be used as a container to hold not only the interlaced ZnO laminas but also Ag nanoparticles in the center. The special heterostructures of nestlike ZnO holding Ag nanoparticles were found to display the superior properties on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering. This work has signified an important methodology to produce a wide assortment of desired microstructures of ZnO.

CD209-336A/G promotor polymorphism and its clinical associations in sickle cell disease Egyptian Pediatric patients.

PubMed

Afifi, Rasha Abdel-Raouf; Kamal, Dina; Sayed, Riham El; Ekladious, Sherif M M; Shaheen, Gehan H; Yousry, Sherif M; Hussein, Rania Elsayed

2018-06-01

To detect the frequency of CD209 A>G polymorphism in sickle cell disease (SCD) Egyptian patients and to evaluate the use of CD209 A>G polymorphism as a genetic predictor of SCD clinical heterogeneity. A total of 100 Egyptian children with SCD and 100 Egyptian controls were tested for CD209 A>G polymorphism and were followed up prospectively between June 2012 and December 2014. Comparison of CD209 A>G polymorphism among cases and controls did not show statistically significant difference (p = .742). In addition, comparison of the allelic frequency did not show statistically significant difference (p = .738). Infections occurred more frequently among the heterozygous genotype (AG; 60.5%) and homozygous genotype (GG; 75%) patients than among the wild (AA) genotype (24.1%; p < .001). The use of hydroxyurea treatment was significantly higher among the wild (AA) genotype (47%) than the heterozygous (AG; 21%) and homozygous (GG; 5%) genotypes (p = .003). We found no significant difference between our population of Egyptian SCD cases and controls regarding CD209 A>G polymorphism. Infections occurred more frequently among the heterozygous genotype (AG) and homozygous genotype (GG) patients. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Photoelectrochemical performance of NiO-coated ZnO-CdS core-shell photoanode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iyengar, Pranit; Das, Chandan; Balasubramaniam, K. R.

2017-03-01

A nano-structured core-shell ZnO-CdS photoanode device with a mesoporous NiO co-catalyst layer was fabricated using solution-processing methods. The growth of the sparse ZnO nano-rod film with a thickness of ca. 930 nm was achieved by optimizing parameters such as the thickness of the ZnO seed layer, choice of Zn precursor salt and the salt concentration. CdS was then coated by a combination of spin coating and spin SILAR (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction) methods to completely fill the interspace of ZnO nano-rods. The uniform CdS surface facilitated the growth of a continuous mesoporous NiO layer. Upon illumination of 100 mW·cm-2 AM 1.5 G radiation the device exhibits stable photocurrents of 2.15 mA·cm-2 at 1.23 V and 0.92 mA·cm-2 at 0.00 V versus RHE, which are significantly higher as compared to the bare ZnO-CdS device. The excellent performance of the device can be ascribed to the higher visible region absorption by CdS, and effective separation of the photogenerated charge carriers due to the suitable band alignment and nanostructuring. Additionally, the mesoporous NiO overlayer offered a larger contact area with the electrolyte and promoted the kinetics enabling higher and stable photocurrent even till the 35th min. of testing.

The design of novel visible light driven Ag/CdO as smart nanocomposite for photodegradation of different dye contaminants.

PubMed

Saravanakumar, K; Muthuraj, V; Jeyaraj, M

2018-01-05

In this paper, we report a novel visible light driven Ag/CdO photocatalyst, fabricated for the first time via one pot hydrothermal method and further applied for the photodegradation of two important exemplar water contaminants, Malachite green and Acid Orange 7. The microstructure, composition and optical properties of Ag/CdO nanocomposites were thoroughly investigated by various techniques. Scanning electron microscopy clearly shows that Ag NPs were strongly embedded between the CdO nanoparticles. Among the series of synthesized Ag/CdO nanocomposites, (5%) Ag/CdO nanocomposite possesses enhanced photocatalytic activity. This result was attributed to the synergistic effect between Ag and CdO, and mainly Ag NPs can act as an electron trap site, which could reduce the recombination of the electron-hole and induce the visible light absorption. The active species trapping experiments implicate OH and O 2 - radicals as the respective primary and secondary reactive species responsible for oxidative photodegradation of organic pollutants. On the basis of the results, a possible photocatalytic mechanism has also been proposed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The design of novel visible light driven Ag/CdO as smart nanocomposite for photodegradation of different dye contaminants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saravanakumar, K.; Muthuraj, V.; Jeyaraj, M.

2018-01-01

In this paper, we report a novel visible light driven Ag/CdO photocatalyst, fabricated for the first time via one pot hydrothermal method and further applied for the photodegradation of two important exemplar water contaminants, Malachite green and Acid Orange 7. The microstructure, composition and optical properties of Ag/CdO nanocomposites were thoroughly investigated by various techniques. Scanning electron microscopy clearly shows that Ag NPs were strongly embedded between the CdO nanoparticles. Among the series of synthesized Ag/CdO nanocomposites, (5%) Ag/CdO nanocomposite possesses enhanced photocatalytic activity. This result was attributed to the synergistic effect between Ag and CdO, and mainly Ag NPs can act as an electron trap site, which could reduce the recombination of the electron-hole and induce the visible light absorption. The active species trapping experiments implicate radOH and O2rad - radicals as the respective primary and secondary reactive species responsible for oxidative photodegradation of organic pollutants. On the basis of the results, a possible photocatalytic mechanism has also been proposed.

The study and characteristics of ZnO/CdS nanocomposite and its application on nanoantibacterial activities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ali, Tinku; Tripathi, P.; Ahammed, Nashiruddin

We have studied the structural and optical properties of ZnO/CdS nanocomposite and its application on nanoantibacterial activities. In this paper, we have used X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques in order to know about the structural and optical properties of synthesized ZnO/CdS nanocomposite. After TEM and EDX analysis it has been confirmed that the shape of this nanocomposite is hexagonal and it has no impurity. The optical absorption spectra of pure ZnO and ZnO/CdS nanocomposite have been presented by UV-Visible Spectrometer and the estimated band gap from absorption peak has been found tomore » be 3.36 and 3.74 eV respectively. Antibacterial activity of ZnO/CdS nanocomposite was evaluated by using standard zone of inhibition (ZOI) microbiology assay. The synthesized ZnO/CdS showed promising antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in dose dependent manner.« less

Amino-functionalized sub-40 nm ultrathin Ag/ZnO transparent electrodes for flexible polymer dispersed liquid crystal devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Jinhua; Lu, Yuehui; Wu, Wenxuan; Li, Jia; Zhang, Xianpeng; Zhu, Chaoting; Yang, Ye; Xu, Feng; Song, Weijie

2017-11-01

Various flexible transparent conducting electrodes (FTCEs) have been studied for promising applications in flexible optoelectronic devices, but there are still challenges in achieving higher transparency and conductivity, lower thickness, better mechanical flexibility, and lower preparation temperatures. In this work, we prepared a sub-40 nm Ag(9 nm)/ZnO(30 nm) FTCE at room temperature, where each layer played a relatively independent role in the tailoring of the optoelectronic properties. A continuous and smooth 9-nm Ag thin film was grown on amino-functionalized glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates to provide good conductivity. A 30-nm ZnO cladding, as an antireflection layer, further improved the transmittance while hardly affecting the conductivity. The room-temperature grown sub-40 nm Ag/ZnO thin films on PET substrate exhibited a transmittance of 88.6% at 550 nm and a sheet resistance of 7.6 Ω.sq-1, which were superior to those of the commercial ITO. The facile preparation benefits the integration of FTCEs into various flexible optoelectronic devices, where the excellent performance of the sub-40 nm Ag/ZnO FTCEs in a flexible polymer dispersed liquid crystal device was demonstrated. Sub-40 nm Ag/ZnO FTCEs that have the characteristics of simple structure, room-temperature preparation, and easily tailored optoelectronic properties would provide flexible optoelectronic devices with more degrees of freedom.

CdZnTe Image Detectors for Hard-X-Ray Telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, C. M. Hubert; Cook, Walter R.; Harrison, Fiona A.; Lin, Jiao Y. Y.; Mao, Peter H.; Schindler, Stephen M.

2005-01-01

Arrays of CdZnTe photodetectors and associated electronic circuitry have been built and tested in a continuing effort to develop focal-plane image sensor systems for hard-x-ray telescopes. Each array contains 24 by 44 pixels at a pitch of 498 m. The detector designs are optimized to obtain low power demand with high spectral resolution in the photon- energy range of 5 to 100 keV. More precisely, each detector array is a hybrid of a CdZnTe photodetector array and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) containing an array of amplifiers in the same pixel pattern as that of the detectors. The array is fabricated on a single crystal of CdZnTe having dimensions of 23.6 by 12.9 by 2 mm. The detector-array cathode is a monolithic platinum contact. On the anode plane, the contact metal is patterned into the aforementioned pixel array, surrounded by a guard ring that is 1 mm wide on three sides and is 0.1 mm wide on the fourth side so that two such detector arrays can be placed side-by-side to form a roughly square sensor area with minimal dead area between them. Figure 1 shows two anode patterns. One pattern features larger pixel anode contacts, with a 30-m gap between them. The other pattern features smaller pixel anode contacts plus a contact for a shaping electrode in the form of a grid that separates all the pixels. In operation, the grid is held at a potential intermediate between the cathode and anode potentials to steer electric charges toward the anode in order to reduce the loss of charges in the inter-anode gaps. The CdZnTe photodetector array is mechanically and electrically connected to the ASIC (see Figure 2), either by use of indium bump bonds or by use of conductive epoxy bumps on the CdZnTe array joined to gold bumps on the ASIC. Hence, the output of each pixel detector is fed to its own amplifier chain.

Magnesium effects on CdSe self-assembled quantum dot formation on Zn xCd yMg 1-x-ySe layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noemi Perez-Paz, M.; Lu, Hong; Shen, Aidong; Jean Mary, F.; Akins, Daniel; Tamargo, Maria C.

2006-09-01

Optical and morphological studies are used to investigate the effects of chemical composition and, in particular, the magnesium content of the Zn xCd yMg 1-x-ySe barrier layers on the size, density and uniformity of CdSe self-assembled quantum dots (QDs). A reduction of the uncapped QD size, as well as a blue shift of the capped QD photoluminescence peak position by increasing Mg concentration in the Zn xCd yMg 1-x-ySe barrier has been demonstrated by changing the Mg cell temperature during growth. In addition, a more uniform and more densely packed QD layer has been observed with an increase of the MgSe fraction in the Zn xCd yMg 1-x-ySe barrier layer using three-dimensional topographic atomic force microscopy images of the surface of uncapped QDs. Results point to Mg as a chemical factor that induces QD formation, either by increasing the density of atomic steps or/and by changing the energy of the Zn xCd yMg 1-x-ySe surface.

Photocatalytic activity of ZnO doped with Ag on the degradation of endocrine disrupting under UV irradiation and the investigation of its antibacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bechambi, Olfa; Chalbi, Manel; Najjar, Wahiba; Sayadi, Sami

2015-08-01

Ag-doped ZnO photocatalysts with different Ag molar content (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0%) were prepared via hydrothermal method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen physisorption at 77 K, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV--Visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence spectra (PL) and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the structural, textural and optical properties of the samples. The results showed that Ag-doping does not change the average crystallite size with the Ag low content (≤1.0%) but slightly decreases with Ag high content (>1.0%). The specific surface area (SBET) increases with the increase of the Ag content. The band gap values of ZnO are decreased with the increase of the Ag doping level. The results of the photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) in aqueous solutions under UV irradiation and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) showed that silver ions doping greatly improved the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO. The TOC conversion BPA and NP are 72.1% and 81.08% respectively obtained using 1% Ag-doped ZnO. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the fact that the modification of ZnO with an appropriate amount of Ag can increase the separation efficiency of the photogenerated electrons-holes in ZnO. The antibacterial activity of the catalysts which uses Escherichia coli as a model for Gram-negative bacteria confirmed that Ag-doped ZnO possessed more antibacterial activity than the pure ZnO.

One-pot ultrasonic-assisted method for preparation of Ag/AgCl sensitized ZnO nanostructures as visible-light-driven photocatalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naghizadeh-Alamdari, Sara; Habibi-Yangjeh, Aziz; Pirhashemi, Mahsa

2015-02-01

Ultrasonic-assisted method was applied for preparation of Ag/AgCl sensitized ZnO nanostructures by one-pot procedure in water without using any post preparation treatments. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM, DRS, XPS, BET, and PL techniques. In the nanocomposites, ZnO and AgCl have wurtzite hexagonal and cubic crystalline phases, respectively and their surface morphologies remarkably change with increasing mole fraction of silver chloride. The EDX and XPS techniques show that the prepared samples are extremely pure. Ability of the nanocomposites for absorption of visible-light irradiation enhanced with increasing AgCl content. Photocatalytic examination of the nanocomposites was carried out using aqueous solution of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation. The degradation rate constant on the nancomposite rapidly increases with mole fraction of silver chloride up to 0.237. Enhancing activity of the nanocomposite was attributed to its ability for absorbing visible light and separation of electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, influence of ultrasonic irradiation time, calcination temperature, catalyst weight, pH of solution, and scavengers of reactive species on the degradation activity was investigated and the results were discussed. Finally, the photocatalyst has good activity after five successive cycles.

Purification of CdZnTe by electromigration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, K.; Kim, Sangsu; Hong, Jinki; Lee, Jinseo; Hong, Taekwon; Bolotnikov, A. E.; Camarda, G. S.; James, R. B.

2015-04-01

Electro-migration of ionized/electrically active impurities in CdZnTe (CZT) was successfully demonstrated at elevated temperature with an electric field of 20 V/mm. Copper, which exists in positively charged states, electro-migrated at a speed of 15 μm/h in an electric field of 20 V/mm. A notable variation in impurity concentration along the growth direction with the segregation tendency of the impurities was observed in an electro-migrated CZT boule. Notably, both Ga and Fe, which exist in positively charged states, exhibited the opposite distribution to that of their segregation tendency in Cd(Zn)Te. A CZT detector fabricated from the middle portion of the electro-migrated CZT boule showed an improved mobility-lifetime product of 0.91 × 10-2 cm2/V, compared with that of 1.4 × 10-3 cm2/V, observed in an as-grown (non-electro-migrated) CZT detector. The optimum radiation detector material would have minimum concentration of deep traps required for compensation.

Photoelectrochemical detection of alpha-fetoprotein based on ZnO inverse opals structure electrodes modified by Ag2S nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Jiang, Yandong; Liu, Dali; Yang, Yudan; Xu, Ru; Zhang, Tianxiang; Sheng, Kuang; Song, Hongwei

2016-01-01

In this work, a new photoelectrochemical biosensor based on Ag2S nanoparticles (NPs) modified macroporous ZnO inverse opals structure (IOs) was developed for sensitive and rapid detection of alpha fetal protein (AFP). Small size and uniformly dispersed Ag2S NPs were prepared using the Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption And Reaction (SILAR) method, which were adsorbed on ZnO IOs surface and frame work as matrix for immobilization of AFP. The composite structure of ZnO/Ag2S expanded the scope of light absorption to long wavelength, which can make full use of the light energy. Meanwhile, an effective matching of energy levels between the conduction bands of Ag2S and ZnO are beneficial to the photo-generated electrons transfer. The biosensors based on FTO (fluorine-doped tinoxide) ZnO/Ag2S electrode showed enough sensitivity and a wide linear range from 0.05 ng/mL to 200 ng/mL with a low detection limit of 8 pg/mL for the detection of AFP. It also exhibited high reproducibility, specificity and stability. The proposed method was potentially attractive for achieving excellent photoelectrochemical biosensor for detection of other proteins. PMID:27922086

Controllable synthesis of ZnxCd1-xS@ZnO core-shell nanorods with enhanced photocatalytic activity.

PubMed

Xie, Shilei; Lu, Xihong; Zhai, Teng; Gan, Jiayong; Li, Wei; Xu, Ming; Yu, Minghao; Zhang, Yuan-Ming; Tong, Yexiang

2012-07-17

We report the synthesis of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S@ZnO nanorod arrays via a facile two-step process and the implementation of these core-shell nanorods as an environmental friendly and recyclable photocatalyst for methyl orange degradation. The band gap of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S@ZnO core-shell nanorods can be readily tunable by adjusting the ratio of Zn/Cd during the synthesis. These Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S@ZnO core-shell nanorods exhibit a high photocatalytic activity and good stability in the degradation of the methyl orange. Moreover, these films grown on FTO substrates make the collection and recycle of the photocatalyst easier. These findings may open new opportunities for the design of effective, stable, and easy-recyclable photocatalytic materials.

The potential effect of metallothionein 2A - 5 A/G single nucleotide polymorphism on blood cadmium, lead, zinc and copper levels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kayaalti, Zeliha, E-mail: kayaalti@ankara.edu.tr; Aliyev, Vugar; Soeylemezoglu, Tuelin

2011-10-01

Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight, cysteine-rich, metal-binding proteins. Because of their rich thiol groups, MTs bind to the biologically essential metals and perform these metals' homeostatic regulations; absorb the heavy metals and assist with their transportation and extraction. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the metallothionein 2A (MT2A) core promoter region - 5 A/G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu levels in the blood samples. MT2A polymorphism was determined by the standard polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique using the 616 blood samples and the genotype frequencies weremore » found as 86.6% homozygote typical (AA), 12.8% heterozygote (AG) and 0.6% homozygote atypical (GG). Metal levels were analyzed by dual atomic absorption spectrophotometer system and the average levels of Cd, Pb, Zn and Cu in the blood samples were 1.69 {+-} 1.57 ppb, 30.62 {+-} 14.13 ppb, 0.98 {+-} 0.49 ppm and 1.04 {+-} 0.45 ppm, respectively. As a result; highly statistically significant associations were detected between the - 5 A/G core promoter region SNP in the MT2A gene and Cd, Pb and Zn levels (p = 0.004, p = 0.012 and p = 0.002, respectively), but no association was found with Cu level (p = 0.595). Individuals with the GG genotype had statistically lower Zn level and higher Cd and Pb levels in the blood samples than individuals with AA and AG genotypes. This study suggests that having the GG genotype individuals may be more sensitive for the metal toxicity and they should be more careful about protecting their health against the toxic effects of the heavy metals. - Highlights: > MT2A -5A/G SNP has strong effect on the Cd, Pb and Zn levels in the blood. > MT2A GG individuals should be more careful for their health against metal toxicity. > This SNP might be considered as a biomarker for risk of disease related to metals.« less

Mid-Gap States and Normal vs Inverted Bonding in Luminescent Cu+- and Ag+-Doped CdSe Nanocrystals.

PubMed

Nelson, Heidi D; Hinterding, Stijn O M; Fainblat, Rachel; Creutz, Sidney E; Li, Xiaosong; Gamelin, Daniel R

2017-05-10

Mid-gap luminescence in copper (Cu + )-doped semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) involves recombination of delocalized conduction-band electrons with copper-localized holes. Silver (Ag + )-doped semiconductor NCs show similar mid-gap luminescence at slightly (∼0.3 eV) higher energy, suggesting a similar luminescence mechanism, but this suggestion appears inconsistent with the large difference between Ag + and Cu + ionization energies (∼1.5 eV), which should make hole trapping by Ag + highly unfavorable. Here, Ag + -doped CdSe NCs (Ag + :CdSe) are studied using time-resolved variable-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, magnetic circularly polarized luminescence (MCPL) spectroscopy, and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) to address this apparent paradox. In addition to confirming that Ag + :CdSe and Cu + :CdSe NCs display similar broad PL with large Stokes shifts, we demonstrate that both also show very similar temperature-dependent PL lifetimes and magneto-luminescence. Electronic-structure calculations further predict that both dopants generate similar localized mid-gap states. Despite these strong similarities, we conclude that these materials possess significantly different electronic structures. Specifically, whereas photogenerated holes in Cu + :CdSe NCs localize primarily in Cu(3d) orbitals, formally oxidizing Cu + to Cu 2+ , in Ag + :CdSe NCs they localize primarily in 4p orbitals of the four neighboring Se 2- ligands, and Ag + is not oxidized. This difference reflects a shift from "normal" to "inverted" bonding going from Cu + to Ag + . The spectroscopic similarities are explained by the fact that, in both materials, photogenerated holes are localized primarily within covalent [MSe 4 ] dopant clusters (M = Ag + , Cu + ). These findings reconcile the similar spectroscopies of Ag + - and Cu + -doped semiconductor NCs with the vastly different ionization potentials of their Ag + and Cu + dopants.

Transparent capacitors with hybrid ZnO:Al and Ag nanowires as electrodes.

PubMed

Zhang, Guozhen; Wu, Hao; Wang, Xiao; Wang, Ti; Liu, Chang

2016-03-11

Transparent conducting films with a composite structure of AlZnO-Ag nanowires (AgNWs) have been prepared by atomic layer deposition. The sheet resistance was reduced from 120 to 9 Ω when the AgNW networks were involved. Transparent capacitors with Al2O3-TiO2-Al2O3 dielectrics were fabricated on the composite electrodes and demonstrated a capacitance density of 10.1 fF μm(-2), which was significantly higher than that of capacitors with AlZnO electrodes (8.8 fF μm(-1)). The capacitance density remained almost unchanged in a broad frequency range from 3 kHz to 1 MHz. Moreover, a low leakage current density of 2.4 × 10(-7) A cm(-2) at 1 V was achieved. Transparent and flexible capacitors were also fabricated using the composite electrodes, and demonstrated an improved bendability. The transparent capacitors showed an average optical transmittance over 70% in the visible range, and thus open the door to practical applications in transparent integrated circuits.

Comparative study on thermodynamic characteristics of AgCuZnSn brazing alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xingxing; Li, Shuai; Peng, Jin

2018-01-01

AgCuZnSn brazing alloys were prepared based on the BAg50CuZn filler metal through electroplating diffusion process, and melting alloying method. The thermodynamics of phase transformations of those fillers were analyzed by non-isothermal differentiation and integration methods of thermal analysis kinetics. In this study, it was demonstrated that as the Sn content increased, the reaction fractional integral curves of AgCuZnSn fillers from solid to liquid became straighter at the endothermic peak. Under the same Sn contents, the reaction fractional integral curve of the Sn-plated filler metal was straighter, and the phase transformation activation energy was higher compared to the traditional silver filler metal. At the 7.2 wt% Sn content, the activation energies and pre-exponential factors of the two fillers reached the maximum, then the phase transformation rate equations of the Sn-plated silver filler and the traditional filler were determined as: k = 1.41 × 1032exp(-5.56 × 105/RT), k = 7.29 × 1020exp(-3.64 × 105/RT), respectively.

Effect of Ag doping on the properties of ZnO thin films for UV stimulated emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Razeen, Ahmed S.; Gadallah, A.-S.; El-Nahass, M. M.

2018-06-01

Ag doped ZnO thin films have been prepared using sol-gel spin coating method, with different doping concentrations. Structural and morphological properties of the films have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Thin films have been optically pumped and stimulated emission has been observed with strong peaks in the UV region. The UV stimulated emission is found to be due to exciton-exciton scattering, and Ag doping promoted this process by increasing the excitons concentrations in the ZnO lattice. Output-input intensity relation and peak emission, FWHM, and quantum efficiency relations with pump intensity have been reported. The threshold for which stimulated emission started has been evaluated to be about 18 MW/cm2 with quantum efficiency of about 58.7%. Mechanisms explaining the role of Ag in enhancement of stimulated emission from ZnO thin films have been proposed.

A first principles study of the properties of Al:ZnO and its adhesion to Ag in an optical coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Zheshuai; Bristowe, Paul D.

2009-07-01

A first principles density functional study of the atomistic properties of Al:ZnO and its adhesion to Ag is presented. Optical coatings often contain interfaces between ZnO (0001) and Ag (111) layers whose bonding can be improved by incorporating small amounts of Al into the ZnO but the underlying strengthening mechanism remains unclear. It is assumed that Al relaxes the internal compressive stress in the film but the situation is complicated by the presence of hydrogen and/or water which can adsorb on the ZnO surface during fabrication of the coating. Hydrogen and/or water are known to weaken the Ag/ZnO interface particularly when it is O terminated. In this paper it is shown that aluminum substitutes on Zn sites in ZnO and this does indeed reduce the internal stress in the layer under compression. However, it is also shown that Al segregates to the ZnO surface when it is O terminated (but not Zn terminated) and this reduces the propensity for hydrogen adsorption. Thus by eliminating some of the hydrogen from the ZnO surface which is more likely to be O terminated than Zn terminated under ambient conditions, the strength of the Ag/ZnO interface can be increased. The effect of aluminum incorporation into the ZnO layer is therefore twofold: it relaxes the residual stresses in the coating and also improves the chemical bonding at the metal/oxide interface by removing the weakening effects of gaseous adsorption. The changes in interfacial bonding are explained in terms of an electron redistribution and compensation model.

Extending the spectral range of CdSe/ZnSe quantum wells by strain engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Finke, A.; Ruth, M.; Scholz, S.; Ludwig, A.; Wieck, A. D.; Reuter, D.; Pawlis, A.

2015-01-01

We demonstrate efficient room-temperature photoluminescence and spectral tuning of epitaxially grown ZnSe/CdSe quantum well structures almost over the whole visible spectrum (470-600 nm wavelength). The key element to achieve the observed high quantum efficiency and enormous tuning range was the implementation of a special strain engineering technique, which allows us to suppress substantial lattice relaxation of CdSe on ZnSe. Previous studies indicated that a CdSe coverage exceeding 3 ML on ZnSe results in the formation of extensive lattice defects and complete quenching of the photoluminescence at low and room temperature. In contrast, our approach of strain engineering enables the deposition of planar CdSe quantum wells with a thickness ranging from 1 to 6 ML with excellent optical properties. We attribute the observed experimental features to a controllable strain compensation effect that is present in an alternating system of tensile and compressively strained epitaxial layers and supported this model by calculations of the transition energies of the ZnSe/CdSe quantum wells.

Photoluminescence studies on Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S:Mn2+ nanocrystals.

PubMed

Sethi, Ruchi; Kumar, Lokendra; Pandey, A C

2009-09-01

Highly monodispersed, undoped and doped with Mn2+, binary and ternary (CdS, ZnS, Cd(1-x)Zn(x)S) compound semiconductor nanocrystals have been synthesized by co-precipitation method using citric acid as a stabilizer. As prepared sample are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Small angle X-ray scattering, Transmission electron microscope, Optical absorption and Photoluminescence spectroscopy, for their optical and structural properties. X-ray diffraction, Small angle X-ray scattering and Transmission electron microscope results confirm the preparation of monodispersed nanocrystals. Photoluminescence studies show a significant blue shift in the wavelength with an increasing concentration of Zn in alloy nanocrystals.

Purification, growth, and characterization of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)Se crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silberman, E.; Burger, A.; Chen, W.; Henderson, D. O.; Morgan, S. H.; Springer, John M.; Yao, Y.

The purification of starting materials which were used in the growth of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)Se (x = 0.2) single crystals using the traveling solution method (TSM) is reported. Up to 13 cm long single crystals and as grown resistivities of 6 x 10(exp 12) ohm/cm could be achieved. Infrared and Raman spectra of Zn(0.2)Cd(0.8)Se are also presented and discussed.

Purification, growth, and characterization of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)Se crystals

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silberman, E.; Burger, A.; Chen, W.; Henderson, D. O.; Morgan, S. H.; Springer, John M.; Yao, Y.

1989-01-01

The purification of starting materials which were used in the growth of Zn(x)Cd(1-x)Se (x = 0.2) single crystals using the traveling solution method (TSM) is reported. Up to 13 cm long single crystals and as grown resistivities of 6 x 10(exp 12) ohm/cm could be achieved. Infrared and Raman spectra of Zn(0.2)Cd(0.8)Se are also presented and discussed.

Electrochemiluminescence assay of Cu2+ by using one-step electrodeposition synthesized CdS/ZnS quantum dots.

PubMed

Zhao, Guanhui; Li, Xiaojian; Zhao, Yongbei; Li, Yueyuan; Cao, Wei; Wei, Qin

2017-08-21

A sensitive and selective method was proposed to detect Cu 2+ based on the electrochemiluminescence quenching of CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). Herein, CdS/ZnS QDs were one-step electrodeposited directly on a gold electrode from an electrolyte (containing Cd(NO 3 ) 2 , Zn(NO 3 ) 2 , EDTA and Na 2 S 2 O 3 ) by cycling the potential from 0 to -1.8 V. The prepared CdS/ZnS QDs exhibited excellent solubility and strong and stable cathodic ECL activity. Meanwhile, Nafion was used to immobilize CdS/ZnS QDs. The quenching effect of Cu 2+ on the cathodic ECL of CdS/ZnS QDs was found to be selective and concentration dependent. The linear range for Cu 2+ detection was from 2.5 nM to 200 nM with a detection limit of 0.95 nM. Furthermore, the designed method for the detection of Cu 2+ can provide a reference for the detection of other heavy metal ions.

Positron annihilation spectroscopy of vacancy-related defects in CdTe:Cl and CdZnTe:Ge at different stoichiometry deviations

PubMed Central

Šedivý, L.; Čížek, J.; Belas, E.; Grill, R.; Melikhova, O.

2016-01-01

Positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) was used to examine the effect of defined Cd-rich and Te-rich annealing on point defects in Cl-doped CdTe and Ge-doped CdZnTe semi-insulating single crystals. The as-grown crystals contain open-volume defects connected with Cd vacancies . It was found that the Cd vacancies agglomerate into clusters coupled with Cl in CdTe:Cl, and in CdZnTe:Ge they are coupled with Ge donors. While annealing in Cd pressure reduces of the density, subsequent annealing in Te pressure restores . The CdTe:Cl contains negatively-charged shallow traps interpreted as Rydberg states of A-centres and representing the major positron trapping sites at low temperature. Positrons confined in the shallow traps exhibit lifetime, which is shorter than the CdTe bulk lifetime. Interpretation of the PAS data was successfully combined with electrical resistivity, Hall effect measurements and chemical analysis, and allowed us to determine the principal point defect densities. PMID:26860684

InP/ZnS as a safer alternative to CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots: in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunetti, Virgilio; Chibli, Hicham; Fiammengo, Roberto; Galeone, Antonio; Malvindi, Maria Ada; Vecchio, Giuseppe; Cingolani, Roberto; Nadeau, Jay L.; Pompa, Pier Paolo

2012-12-01

We show that water soluble InP/ZnS core/shell QDs are a safer alternative to CdSe/ZnS QDs for biological applications, by comparing their toxicity in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (animal model Drosophila). By choosing QDs with comparable physical and chemical properties, we find that cellular uptake and localization are practically identical for these two nanomaterials. Toxicity of CdSe/ZnS QDs appears to be related to the release of poisonous Cd2+ ions and indeed we show that there is leaching of Cd2+ ions from the particle core despite the two-layer ZnS shell. Since an almost identical amount of In(iii) ions is observed to leach from the core of InP/ZnS QDs, their very low toxicity as revealed in this study hints at a much lower intrinsic toxicity of indium compared to cadmium.

InP/ZnS as a safer alternative to CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots: in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment.

PubMed

Brunetti, Virgilio; Chibli, Hicham; Fiammengo, Roberto; Galeone, Antonio; Malvindi, Maria Ada; Vecchio, Giuseppe; Cingolani, Roberto; Nadeau, Jay L; Pompa, Pier Paolo

2013-01-07

We show that water soluble InP/ZnS core/shell QDs are a safer alternative to CdSe/ZnS QDs for biological applications, by comparing their toxicity in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (animal model Drosophila). By choosing QDs with comparable physical and chemical properties, we find that cellular uptake and localization are practically identical for these two nanomaterials. Toxicity of CdSe/ZnS QDs appears to be related to the release of poisonous Cd(2+) ions and indeed we show that there is leaching of Cd(2+) ions from the particle core despite the two-layer ZnS shell. Since an almost identical amount of In(III) ions is observed to leach from the core of InP/ZnS QDs, their very low toxicity as revealed in this study hints at a much lower intrinsic toxicity of indium compared to cadmium.

3D ZnO/Ag Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering on Disposable and Flexible Cardboard Platforms

PubMed Central

Pimentel, Ana; Araújo, Andreia; Águas, Hugo; Martins, Rodrigo; Fortunato, Elvira

2017-01-01

In the present study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) with a hexagonal structure have been synthesized via a hydrothermal method assisted by microwave radiation, using specialized cardboard materials as substrates. Cardboard-type substrates are cost-efficient and robust paper-based platforms that can be integrated into several opto-electronic applications for medical diagnostics, analysis and/or quality control devices. This class of substrates also enables highly-sensitive Raman molecular detection, amiable to several different operational environments and target surfaces. The structural characterization of the ZnO NR arrays has been carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical measurements. The effects of the synthesis time (5–30 min) and temperature (70–130 °C) of the ZnO NR arrays decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been investigated in view of their application for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) molecular detection. The size and density of the ZnO NRs, as well as those of the AgNPs, are shown to play a central role in the final SERS response. A Raman enhancement factor of 7 × 105 was obtained using rhodamine 6 G (R6G) as the test analyte; a ZnO NR array was produced for only 5 min at 70 °C. This condition presents higher ZnO NR and AgNP densities, thereby increasing the total number of plasmonic “hot-spots”, their volume coverage and the number of analyte molecules that are subject to enhanced sensing.

Facile synthesis and luminescence characteristics of high-quality CdS: Eu/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals with biocompatibility.

PubMed

Zhang, Kexin; Zhang, Rui; Yu, Yaxin; Sun, Shuqing

2012-04-01

In this paper, we report a facile method to synthesize high quality CdS: Eu nanocrystals (NCs) and CdS: Eu/ZnS NCs with strong photoluminescence (PL). The influence of various experimental variables including the concentration of Eu3+ ions, the reaction time and the reaction temperature were investigated systematically. In addition, the PL properties of CdS: Eu NCs exhibited pH sensitive. Under the acid condition, pH value of the CdS: Eu NCs solution played an important role in determining PL emission intensity. However, under the alkaline condition, the obtained CdS: Eu NCs exhibited a tunable PL emission wavelength (from 490 nm to 610 nm) when pH value was adjusted from pH 7 to 10. After coating with ZnS shell, the CdS: Eu/ZnS NCs showed enhanced PL intensity compare with one of the CdS: Eu NCs. The CdS: Eu NCs and CdS: Eu/ZnS NCs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). In addition, the biocompatibility of these NCs was measured by hemolytic test, which indicated that CdS: Eu/ZnS NCs were more biocompatible than CdS: Eu NCs at the same conditions. It can be expected that CdS: Eu/ZnS NCs are promising biolabeling materials.

Ionic-to-Electronic Conductivity Crossover in CdTe-AgI-As2Te3 Glasses: An 110mAg Tracer Diffusion Study.

PubMed

Kassem, M; Alekseev, I; Bokova, M; Le Coq, D; Bychkov, E

2018-04-12

Conductivity isotherms of (CdTe) x (AgI) 0.5- x/2 (As 2 Te 3 ) 0.5- x/2 glasses (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) reveal a nonmonotonic behavior with increasing CdTe content reminiscent of mixed cation effect in oxide and chalcogenide glasses. Nevertheless, the apparent similarity appears to be partly incorrect. Using 110m Ag tracer diffusion measurements, we show that semiconducting CdTe additions produce a dual effect: (i) decreasing the Ag + ion transport by a factor of ≈200 with a simultaneous increase of the diffusion activation energy and (ii) increasing the electronic conductivity by 1.5 orders of magnitude. Consequently, the conductivity minimum at x = 0.05 reflects an ionic-to-electronic transport crossover; the silver-ion transport number decreases by 3 orders of magnitude with increasing x.

Synthesis and growth mechanism of Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanohexagon dendrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Wen; Fang, Pengfei; Wang, Shaojie

2014-12-01

Hierarchical Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanohexagon dendrites were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method. The Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanohexagon dendrites were made up of nanohexagons with a side length of about 90 nm. The nanohexagons were regularly arranged forming as embranchments which were parallel to each other along certain hexagonal directions. Furthermore, these embranchments made up primary trunks shaping as dendrites. The growth mechanism of Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanohexagon dendrites was proposed in which molecular soft template and lowest energy principle played key roles. By adjusting the composition of the reactants, a series of ZnxCd1-xS solid solutions could be obtained. The morphology of the synthesized ZnxCd1-xS depended much on the x value. The UV-vis spectra absorb edges of the ZnxCd1-xS samples continuously shifted indicating the changes of the band gap.

Ag plasmonic nanostructures and a novel gel electrolyte in a high efficiency TiO2/CdS solar cell.

PubMed

Kumar, P Naresh; Deepa, Melepurath; Srivastava, Avanish Kumar

2015-04-21

A novel photoanode architecture with plasmonic silver (Ag) nanostructures embedded in titania (TiO2), which served as the wide band gap semiconducting support and CdS quantum dots (QDs), as light absorbers, is presented. Ag nanostructures were prepared by a polyol method and are comprised of clumps of nanorods, 15-35 nm wide, interspersed with globular nanoparticles and they were characterized by a face centered cubic lattice. Optimization of Ag nanostructures was achieved on the basis of a superior power conversion efficiency (PCE) obtained for the cell with a Ag/TiO2/CdS electrode encompassing a mixed morphology of Ag nano-rods and particles, relative to analogous cells with either Ag nanoparticles or Ag nanorods. Interfacial charge transfer kinetics was unraveled by fluorescence quenching and lifetime studies. Ag nanostructures improve the light harvesting ability of the TiO2/CdS photoanode via (a) plasmonic and scattering effects, which induce both near- and far-field enhancements which translate to higher photocurrent densities and (b) charging effects, whereby, photoexcited electron transfer from TiO2 to Ag is facilitated by Fermi level equilibration. Owing to the spectacular ability of Ag nanostructures to increase light absorption, a greatly increased PCE of 4.27% and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 55% (at 440 nm) was achieved for the cell based on Ag/TiO2/CdS, greater by 42 and 66%, respectively, compared to the TiO2/CdS based cell. In addition, the liquid S(2-) electrolyte was replaced by a S(2-) gel containing fumed silica, and the redox potential, conductivity and p-type conduction of the two were deduced to be comparable. Although the gel based cells showed diminished solar cell performances compared to their liquid counterparts, nonetheless, the Ag/TiO2/CdS electrode continued to outperform the TiO2/CdS electrode. Our studies demonstrate that Ag nanostructures effectively capture a significant chunk of the electromagnetic spectrum and aid QD

CdTe/ZnS quantum dots as fluorescent probes for ammonium determination.

PubMed

Yi, Kui-Yu

2016-06-01

Novel CdTe/ZnS quantum dot (QD) probes based on the quenching effect were proposed for the simple, rapid, and specific determination of ammonium in aqueous solutions. The QDs were modified using 3-mercaptopropionic acid, and the fluorescence responses of the CdTe/ZnS QD probes to ammonium were detected through regularity quenching. The quenching levels of the CdTe/ZnS QDs and ammonium concentration showed a good linear relationship between 4.0 × 10(-6) and 5.0 × 10(-4) mol/L; the detection limit was 3.0 × 10(-7) mol/L. Ammonium contents in synthetic explosion soil samples were measured to determine the practical applications of the QD probes and a probable quenching mechanism was described. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthesis and characterization of Zn(O,OH)S and AgInS2 layers to be used in thin film solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallejo, W.; Arredondo, C. A.; Gordillo, G.

2010-11-01

In this paper AgInS2 and Zn(O,OH)S thin films were synthesized and characterized. AgInS2 layers were grown by co-evaporation from metal precursors in a two-step process, and, Zn(O,OH)S thin films were deposited from chemical bath containing thiourea, zinc acetate, sodium citrate and ammonia. X-ray diffraction measurements indicated that AgInS2 thin films grown with chalcopyrite structure, and the as-grown Zn(O,OH)S thin films were polycrystalline. It was also found that the AgInS2 films presented p-type conductivity, a high absorption coefficient (greater than 104 cm-1) and energy band-gap Eg of about 1.95 eV, Zn(O,OH),S thin films presented Eg of about 3.89 eV. Morphological analysis showed that under this synthesis conditions Zn(O,OH),S thin films coated uniformly the absorber layer. Additionally, the Zn(O,OH)S kinetic growth on AgInS2 layer was studied also. Finally, the results suggest that these layers possibly could be used in one-junction solar cells and/or as top cell in a tandem solar cell.

Long life, low cost, rechargeable AgZn battery for non-military applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Curtis C.

1996-03-01

Of the rechargeable (secondary) battery systems with mature technology, the silver oxide-zinc system (AgZn) safely offers the highest power and energy (watts and watt hours) per unit of volume and mass. As a result they have long been used for aerospace and defense applications where they have also proven their high reliability. In the past, the expense associated with the cost of silver and the resulting low production volume have limited their commercial application. However, the relative low cost of silver now make this system feasible in many applications where high energy and reliability are required. One area of commercial potential is power for a new generation of sophisticated, portable medical equipment. AgZn batteries have recently proven ``enabling technology'' for power critical, advanced medical devices. By extending the cycle calendar life to the system (offers both improved performance and lower operating cost), a combination is achieved which may enable a wide range of future electrical devices. Other areas where AgZn batteries have been used in nonmilitary applications to provide power to aid in the development of commercial equipment have been: (a) Electrically powered vehicles; (b) Remote sensing in nuclear facilities; (c) Special effects equipment for movies; (d) Remote sensing in petroleum pipe lines; (e) Portable computers; (f) Fly by wire systems for commercial aircraft; and (g) Robotics. However none of these applications have progressed to the level where the volume required will significantly lower cost.

Study of electrostatically self-assembled thin films of CdS and ZnS nanoparticle semiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suryajaya

In this work, CdS and ZnS semiconducting colloid nanoparticles coated with organic shell, containing either SO[3-] or NH[2+] groups, were deposited as thin films using the technique of electrostatic self-assembly. The films produced were characterized with UV-vis spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry - for optical properties; atomic force microscopy (AFM) - for morphology study; mercury probe - for electrical characterisation; and photon counter - for electroluminescence study. UV-vis spectra show a substantial blue shift of the main absorption band of both CdS and ZnS, either in the form of solutions or films, with respect to the bulk materials. The calculation of nanoparticles' radii yields the value of about 1.8 nm for both CdS and ZnS.The fitting of standard ellipsometry data gave the thicknesses (d) of nanoparticle layers of around 5 nm for both CdS and ZnS which corresponds well to the size of particles evaluated from UV-vis spectral data if an additional thickness of the organic shell is taken into account. The values of refractive index (n) and extinction coefficient (k) obtained were about 2.28 and 0.7 at 633 nm wavelength, for both CdS and ZnS.Using total internal reflection (TIRE), the process of alternative deposition of poly-allylamine hydrochloride (PAH) and CdS (or ZnS) layers could be monitored in-situ. The dynamic scan shows that the adsorption kinetic of the first layer of PAH or nanoparticles was slower than that of the next layer. The fitting of TIRE spectra gavethicknesses of about 7 nm and 12 nm for CdS and ZnS, respectively. It supports the suggestion of the formation of three-dimensional aggregates of semiconductor nanoparticles intercalated with polyelectrolyte.AFM images show the formation of large aggregates of nanoparticles, about 40-50 nm, for the films deposited from original colloid solutions, while smaller aggregates, about 12-20 nm, were obtained if the colloid solutions were diluted.Current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance

Geometrical Characteristics of Cd-Rich Inclusion Defects in CdZnTe Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Chao; Sheng, Fengfeng; Yang, Jianrong

2017-08-01

The geometrical characteristics of Cd-rich inclusion defects in CdZnTe crystals have been investigated by infrared transmission (IRT) microscopy and chemical etching methods, revealing that they are composed of a Cd-rich inclusion core zone with high dislocation density and defect extension belts. Based on the experimental results, the orientation and shape of these belts were determined, showing that their extension directions in three-dimensional (3-D) space are along <211> crystal orientation. To explain the observed IRT images of Cd-rich inclusion defects, a 3-D model with plate-shaped structure for dislocation extension belts is proposed. Greyscale IRT images of dislocation extension belts thus depend on their absorption layer thickness. Assuming that defects can be discerned by IRT microscopy only when their absorption layer thickness is greater than twice that of the plate-shaped dislocation extension belts, this 3-D defect model can rationalize the IRT images of Cd-rich inclusion defects.

Synthesis and structural, optical and thermal properties of CdS:Zn2+ nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muruganandam, S.; Anbalagan, G.; Murugadoss, G.

2014-12-01

Undoped and Zn (1-5, 10 %) -doped CdS nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by chemical method and polyvinylpyrrolidone was used as capping agent. The morphology and crystalline structure of the samples were studied by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The average particle size of the spherical nanoparticles determined by these techniques was of the order of 2.5-6 nm. The functional groups of the capping agent on CdS:Zn2+ surface were identified by FT-IR study. The band gap of the nanoparticles was calculated using UV-visible absorption spectra and the result showed that the band gap values were dramatically blue shifted from the bulk CdS. The optimum concentration of the doping ions was selected through absorption study. Photoluminescence of the CdS:Zn2+ nanoparticle showed strong blue and green emission. The thermal properties of the nanoparticles were analyzed by thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis.

Influences of Silver and Zinc Contents in the Stannite Ag2ZnSnS4 Photoelectrodes on Their Photoelectrochemical Performances in the Salt-Water Solution.

PubMed

Cheng, Kong-Wei; Hong, Shu-Wei

2018-06-13

The multicomponent metal sulphide (stannite Ag2ZnSnS4) samples were grown onto the conductive metal oxide coated glass substrates by using the sulfurization of co-sputtering silver-zinc-tin precursors. Several [Ag]/[Zn+Sn] and [Zn]/[Sn] ratios were set in the metal precursors to investigate their influences on the crystal phases, microstructures and physical properties of the stannite Ag2ZnSnS4 samples. The results of the crystal phases and compositions of samples showed that the stannite Ag2ZnSnS4 phase can be obtained using the two-step sulfurization process, which maintained the silver-zinc-tin precursors at 160C for 1 hour and then kept them at 450oC for 30 minutes under sulfur/nitrogen atmosphere. N-type stannite Ag2ZnSnS4 samples with the carrier concentrations of 5.54x1012 - 9.11x1012 cm-3 can be obtained. High resistivities of Ag2ZnSnS4 samples were observed due to the low values of carrier concentration. Increasing the silver content in the sample can improve its PEC performance due to the decrease in the sample resistivity. The ratio of [Ag]/[Zn+Sn] kept at 0.8 and ratio of [Zn]/[Sn] set at 0.90 in the stannite Ag2ZnSnS4 sample had the highest photoelectrochemical performance of 0.31 mA.cm-2 with the potential set at 1.23 V vs. relative hydrogen electrode applied on the sample because of it having the lowest charge transfer resistance in electrolyte.

Purification of CdZnTe by Electromigration

DOE PAGES

Kim, K.; Kim, Sangsu; Hong, Jinki; ...

2015-04-14

Electro-migration of ionized/electrically active impurities in CdZnTe (CZT) was successfully demonstrated at elevated temperature with an electric field of 20 V/mm. Copper, which exists in positively charged states, electro-migrated at a speed of 15 lm/h in an electric field of 20 V/mm. A notable variation in impurity concentration along the growth direction with the segregation tendency of the impurities was observed in an electro-migrated CZT boule. Notably, both Ga and Fe, which exist in positively charged states, exhibited the opposite distribution to that of their segregation tendency in Cd(Zn)Te. Furthermore, a CZT detector fabricated from the middle portion of themore » electromigrated CZT boule showed an improved mobility-lifetime product of 0.91 10 -2 cm 2 /V, compared to that of 1.4 10 -3 cm 2 /V, observed in an as-grown (non-electro-migrated) CZT detector. The optimum radiation detector material would have minimum concentration of deep traps required for compensation.« less

Template free synthesis of ZnO/Ag2O nanocomposites as a highly efficient visible active photocatalyst for detoxification of methyl orange.

PubMed

Kadam, Abhijit; Dhabbe, Rohant; Gophane, Anna; Sathe, Tukaram; Garadkar, Kalyanrao

2016-01-01

A simple and effective route for the synthesis of ZnO/Ag2O nanocomposites with different weight ratios (4:1 to 4:4) have been successfully obtained by combination of thermal decomposition and precipitation technique. The structure, composition, morphology and optical properties of the as-prepared ZnO/Ag2O composites were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, EDS, SEM, TEM, UV-Vis DRS and PL, respectively. The photocatalytic performance of the photocatalysts was evaluated towards the degradation of a methyl orange (MO) under UV and visible light. More specifically, the results showed that the photocatalytic activity with highest rate constant of MO degradation over ZnO/Ag2O (4:2) nanocomposites is more than 22 and 4 times than those of pure ZnO and Ag2O under visible light irradiation, respectively. An improved photocatalytic activity was attributed to the formation of heterostructure between Ag2O and ZnO, the strong visible light absorption and more separation efficiency of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the ZnO/Ag2O (4:2) nanocomposite showed excellent stability towards the photodegradation of MO under visible light. Finally, a possible mechanism for enhanced charge separation and photodegrdation is proposed. Genotoxicity of MO before and after photodegradation was also evaluated by simple comet assay technique. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effects of deep level traps on the electrical properties of semi-insulating CdZnTe

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zha, Gangqiang; Yang, Jian; Xu, Lingyan

2014-01-28

Deep level traps have considerable effects on the electrical properties and radiation detection performance of high resistivity CdZnTe. A deep-trap model for high resistivity CdZnTe was proposed in this paper. The high resistivity mechanism and the electrical properties were analyzed based on this model. High resistivity CdZnTe with high trap ionization energy E{sub t} can withstand high bias voltages. The leakage current is dependent on both the deep traps and the shallow impurities. The performance of a CdZnTe radiation detector will deteriorate at low temperatures, and the way in which sub-bandgap light excitation could improve the low temperature performance canmore » be explained using the deep trap model.« less

Electrochemical route to the synthesis of ZnO microstructures: its nestlike structure and holding of Ag particles

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Abstract A simple and facile electrochemical route was developed for the shape-selective synthesis of large-scaled series of ZnO microstructures, including petal, flower, sphere, nest and clew aggregates of ZnO laminas at room temperature. This route is based on sodium citrate-directed crystallization. In the system, sodium citrate can greatly promote ZnO to nucleate and directly grow by selectively capping the specific ZnO facets because of its excellent adsorption ability. The morphology of ZnO is tuned by readily adjusting the concentration of sodium citrate and the electrodeposition time. Among the series structures, the remarkable ZnO nestlike structure can be used as a container to hold not only the interlaced ZnO laminas but also Ag nanoparticles in the center. The special heterostructures of nestlike ZnO holding Ag nanoparticles were found to display the superior properties on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering. This work has signified an important methodology to produce a wide assortment of desired microstructures of ZnO. PACS 81 Materials science 81.07.-b nanoscale materials and structures Fabrication Characterization 81.15.-z Methods of deposition of films Coatings Film growth and epitaxy. PMID:23414592

The composition effect on the thermal and optical properties across CdZnTe crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strzałkowski, K.

2016-11-01

Cd1-x Zn x Te mixed crystals investigated in this work were grown from the melt using the vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger method in the whole range of composition 0  <  x  <  1 that is from one binary crystal (CdTe) to another (ZnTe). The real composition of grown crystals was measured with the SEM/EDS method along the growth axis. The segregation coefficient of Zn in a CdTe matrix has been evaluated as being close to unity. The energy gap as a function of the composition was determined from transmission spectroscopy. Thanks to that, the bowing parameter of this ternary alloy was found to be 0.458. In this work the systematical study of thermal properties of Cd1-x Zn x Te alloys from one binary crystal (CdTe) to another (ZnTe) grown by the vertical Bridgman technique were undertaken for the first time. The thermal diffusivity and effusivity of the investigated crystals were derived from the experimental data and allowed the thermal conductivity to be calculated. Diagrams of the thermal conductivity versus composition were analyzed applying the model for mixed semiconducting crystals given by Sadao Adachi. Thanks to that, the contribution of the thermal resistivity arising from the lattice disorder to the total resistivity of the crystal has been determined.

In vivo biodistribution and behavior of CdTe/ZnS quantum dots.

PubMed

Zhao, Yan; Zhang, Yue; Qin, Gaofeng; Cheng, Jinjun; Zeng, Wenhao; Liu, Shuchen; Kong, Hui; Wang, Xueqian; Wang, Qingguo; Qu, Huihua

2017-01-01

The unique features of quantum dots (QDs) make them desirable fluorescent tags for cell and developmental biology applications that require long-term, multitarget, and highly sensitive imaging. In this work, we imaged fluorescent cadmium telluride/zinc sulfide (CdTe/ZnS) QDs in organs, tissues, and cells, and analyzed the mechanism of their lymphatic uptake and cellular distribution. We observed that the fluorescent CdTe/ZnS QDs were internalized by lymph nodes in four cell lines from different tissue sources. We obtained the fluorescence intensity-QD concentrations curve by quantitative analysis. Our results demonstrate that cells containing QDs can complete mitosis normally and that distribution of QDs was uniform across cell types and involved the vesicular transport system, including the endoplasmic reticulum. This capacity for CdTe/ZnS QD targeting provides insights into the applicability and limitations of fluorescent QDs for imaging biological specimens.

Reference Data for the Density, Viscosity, and Surface Tension of Liquid Al-Zn, Ag-Sn, Bi-Sn, Cu-Sn, and Sn-Zn Eutectic Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobosz, Alexandra; Gancarz, Tomasz

2018-03-01

The data for the physicochemical properties viscosity, density, and surface tension obtained by different experimental techniques have been analyzed for liquid Al-Zn, Ag-Sn, Bi-Sn, Cu-Sn, and Sn-Zn eutectic alloys. All experimental data sets have been categorized and described by the year of publication, the technique used to obtain the data, the purity of the samples and their compositions, the quoted uncertainty, the number of data in the data set, the form of data, and the temperature range. The proposed standard deviations of liquid eutectic Al-Zn, Ag-Sn, Bi-Sn, Cu-Sn, and Sn-Zn alloys are 0.8%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 0.2%, and 0.1% for the density, 8.7%, 4.1%, 3.6%, 5.1%, and 4.0% for viscosity, and 1.0%, 0.5%, 0.3%, N/A, and 0.4% for surface tension, respectively, at a confidence level of 95%.

Microleakage and antibacterial properties of ZnO and ZnO:Ag nanopowders prepared via a sol-gel method for endodontic sealer application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shayani Rad, M.; Kompany, A.; Khorsand Zak, A.; Javidi, M.; Mortazavi, S. M.

2013-09-01

One of the most important problems in dentistry is the microleakage, whether apical or coronal, which may cause failure of root canal therapy. The aim of this study is to prepare suitable sealer to decrease the microleakage of the root canals as well as having good antibacterial property. Pure ZnO and ZnO:Ag nanopowders were synthesized via sol gel method using gelatin as polymerization agent calcined at different temperatures of 500, 600, and 700 °C for 8 h. The prepared samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction and transition electron microscopy. The microleakage and antibacterial properties of the prepared samples were investigated and compared with zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) and epoxy resin sealer (AH26), which are commonly used in dentistry as sealers. The results showed that the synthesized pure ZnO and ZnO:Ag nanopowders exhibit better microleakage and antibacterial properties in comparison with ZOE and AH26 sealers, and therefore are more suitable filling materials to be used as sealer in root canal treatment.

ZnO nanosheet arrays constructed on weaved titanium wire for CdS-sensitized solar cells

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Ordered ZnO nanosheet arrays were grown on weaved titanium wires by a low-temperature hydrothermal method. CdS nanoparticles were deposited onto the ZnO nanosheet arrays using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method to make a photoanode. Nanoparticle-sensitized solar cells were assembled using these CdS/ZnO nanostructured photoanodes, and their photovoltaic performance was studied systematically. The best light-to-electricity conversion efficiency was obtained to be 2.17% under 100 mW/cm2 illumination, and a remarkable short-circuit photocurrent density of approximately 20.1 mA/cm2 was recorded, which could attribute to the relatively direct pathways for transportation of electrons provided by ZnO nanosheet arrays as well as the direct contact between ZnO and weaved titanium wires. These results indicate that CdS/ZnO nanostructures on weaved titanium wires would open a novel possibility for applications of low-cost solar cells. PMID:24618047

Zn–Se–Cd–S Interlayer Formation at the CdS/Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 Thin-Film Solar Cell Interface

DOE PAGES

Bär, Marcus; Repins, Ingrid; Weinhardt, Lothar; ...

2017-06-14

The chemical structure of the CdS/Cu 2ZnSnSe 4 (CZTSe) interface was studied by a combination of electron and X-ray spectroscopies with varying surface sensitivity. We find the CdS chemical bath deposition causes a 'redistribution' of elements in the proximity of the CdS/CZTSe interface. In detail, our data suggest that Zn and Se from the Zn-terminated CZTSe absorber and Cd and S from the buffer layer form a Zn-Se-Cd-S interlayer. Here, we find direct indications for the presence of Cd-S, Cd-Se, and Cd-Se-Zn bonds at the buffer/absorber interface. Thus, we propose the formation of a mixed Cd(S,Se)-(Cd,Zn)Se interlayer. We also suggestmore » the underlying chemical mechanism is an ion exchange mediated by the amine complexes present in the chemical bath.« less

Insights into the proteomic response of soybean towards Al₂O₃, ZnO, and Ag nanoparticles stress.

PubMed

Hossain, Zahed; Mustafa, Ghazala; Sakata, Katsumi; Komatsu, Setsuko

2016-03-05

Understanding the complex mechanisms involved in plant response to nanoparticles is indispensable in assessing the impact of nano-pollutants on environment. The present study compares the phytotoxicity of three different metal-based nanoparticles (Al2O3, ZnO, and Ag) in soybean seedling at proteome level. Plant growth, rigidity of roots, and root cell viability were markedly affected by ZnO- and Ag-NPs stress; while, Al2O3-NPs challenged soybean maintained normal seedling growth like control. Moreover, severe oxidative burst was evident in ZnO-NPs and Ag-NPs treatments. Gel-free proteomic analysis of NPs stressed soybean roots revealed 104 commonly changed proteins primarily associated with secondary metabolism, cell organization, and hormone metabolism. Oxidation-reduction cascade related genes, such as GDSL motif lipase 5, SKU5 similar 4, galactose oxidase, and quinone reductase were up-regulated in Al2O3-NPs challenged roots and down-regulated in ZnO- and Ag-NPs treatments. In comparison to root, 16 common proteins were found to be significantly changed in leaves of NPs exposed soybean that were predominantly associated to photosystem and protein degradation. The proteomic findings suggest that high abundance of proteins involved in oxidation-reduction, stress signaling, hormonal pathways related to growth and development might be the principal key for optimum growth of soybean under Al2O3-NPs stress. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

AgCl-doped CdSe quantum dots with near-IR photoluminescence.

PubMed

Kotin, Pavel Aleksandrovich; Bubenov, Sergey Sergeevich; Mordvinova, Natalia Evgenievna; Dorofeev, Sergey Gennadievich

2017-01-01

We report the synthesis of colloidal CdSe quantum dots doped with a novel Ag precursor: AgCl. The addition of AgCl causes dramatic changes in the morphology of synthesized nanocrystals from spherical nanoparticles to tetrapods and finally to large ellipsoidal nanoparticles. Ellipsoidal nanoparticles possess an intensive near-IR photoluminescence ranging up to 0.9 eV (ca. 1400 nm). In this article, we explain the reasons for the formation of the ellipsoidal nanoparticles as well as the peculiarities of the process. The structure, Ag content, and optical properties of quantum dots are also investigated. The optimal conditions for maximizing both the reaction yield and IR photoluminescence quantum yield are found.

Do Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn biomagnify in aquatic ecosystems?

PubMed

Cardwell, Rick D; Deforest, David K; Brix, Kevin V; Adams, William J

2013-01-01

In this review, we sought to assess from a study of the literature whether five in organic metals (viz., cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc) bio magnify in aquatic food webs. We also examined whether accumulated metals were toxic to consumers/predators and whether the essential metals (Cu and Zn and possibly Ni) behaved differently from non-essential ones (Cd and Pb). Biomagnification potential was indexed by the magnitude of single and multiple trophic transfers in food chains. In this analysis, we used three lines of evidence-laboratory empirical, biokinetic modeling, and field studies-to make assessments. Trophic transfer factors, calculatedfrom lab studies, field studies, and biokinetic modeling, were generally congruent.Results indicated that Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn generally do not biomagnify in food chains consisting of primary producers, macro invertebrate consumers, and fish occupying TL 3 and higher. However, bio magnification of Zn (TTFs of 1-2) is possible for circumstances in which dietary Zn concentrations are below those required for metabolism. Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn may biomagnify in specific marine food chains consisting of bivalves, herbivorous gastropods, and barnacles at TL2 and carnivorous gastropods at TL3. There was an inverse relationship between TTF and exposure concentration for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn, a finding that is consistent with previous reviews of bioconcentration factors and bioaccumulation factors for metals. Our analysis also failed to demonstrate a relationship between the magnitude of TTFsand dietary toxicity to consumer organisms. Consequently, we conclude that TTFs for the metals examined are not an inherently useful predictor of potential hazard(i.e., toxic potential) to aquatic organisms. This review identified several uncertainties or data gaps, such as the relatively limited data available for nickel, reliance upon highly structured food chains in laboratory studies compared to the unstructured food webs found in nature, and

Phosphine-free synthesis and characterization of type-II ZnSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghasemzadeh, Roghayyeh; Armanmehr, Mohammad Hasan; Abedi, Mohammad; Fateh, Davood Sadeghi; Bahreini, Zaker

2018-01-01

A phosphine-free route for synthesis of type-II ZnSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots, using green, low cost and environmentally friendly reagents and phosphine-free solvents such as 1-octadecene (ODE) and liquid paraffin has been reported. Hot-injection technique has been used for the synthesis of ZnSe core quantum dots. The CdS shell quantum dots prepared by reaction of CdO precursor and S powder in 1-octadecene (ODE). The ZnSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots were synthesized via successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. The characterization of produced quantum dots were performed by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed the formation of type-II ZnSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots with FWHM 32 nm and uniform size distribution.

Point defects in Cd(Zn)Te and TlBr: Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lordi, Vincenzo

2013-09-01

The effects of various crystal defects on the performances of CdTe, CdZnxTe (CZT), and TlBr for room-temperature high-energy radiation detection are examined using first-principles theoretical methods. The predictive, parameter-free, atomistic approaches used provide fundamental understanding of defect properties that are difficult to measure and also allow rapid screening of possibilities for material engineering, such as optimal doping and annealing conditions. Several recent examples from the author's work are reviewed, including: (i) accurate calculations of the thermodynamic and electronic properties of native point defects and point defect complexes in CdTe and CZT; (ii) the effects of Zn alloying on the native point defect properties in CZT; (iii) point defect diffusion and binding leading to Te clustering in Cd(Zn)Te; (iv) the profound effect of native point defects—principally vacancies—on the intrinsic material properties of TlBr, particularly its electronic and ionic conductivity; and (v) a study on doping TlBr to independently control the electronic and ionic conductivity.

The bipyridine adducts of N-phenyldithiocarbamato complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II); synthesis, spectral, thermal decomposition studies and use as precursors for ZnS and CdS nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onwudiwe, Damian C.; Strydom, Christien A.

2015-01-01

Bipyridine adducts of N-phenyldithiocarbamato complexes, [ML12L2] (M = Cd(II), Zn(II); L1 = N-phenyldithiocarbamate, L2 = 2,2‧ bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterised. The decomposition of these complexes to metal sulphides has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The complexes were used as single-source precursors to synthesize MS (M = Zn, Cd) nanoparticles (NPs) passivated by hexadecyl amine (HDA). The growth of the nanoparticles was carried out at two different temperatures: 180 and 220 °C, and the optical and structural properties of the nanoparticles were studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), transmission emission microscopy (TEM) and powdered X-ray diffraction (p-XRD). Nanoparticles, whose average diameters are 2.90 and 3.54 nm for ZnS, and 8.96 and 9.76 nm for CdS grown at 180 and 220 °C respectively, were obtained.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity and characterization of magnetic Ag/BiOI/ZnFe2O4 composites for Hg0 removal under fluorescent light irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Chengwei; Zhang, Anchao; Zhang, Lixiang; Song, Jun; Su, Sheng; Sun, Zhijun; Xiang, Jun

2018-03-01

A series of magnetic Ag/BiOI/ZnFe2O4 hybrids synthesized via hydrothermal process, subsequent deposition-precipitation and photoreduction method were employed to remove elemental mercury (Hg0) under fluorescent light irradiation. The effects of Ag content, fluorescent light irradiation, reaction temperature, pH value, flue gas composition, anions and photocatalyst dosage on Hg0 removal were investigated in detail. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were characterized using N2 adsorption-desorption, XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, VSM, DRS, ESR, PL and photocurrent response. The results showed that the ternary Ag/BiOI/ZnFe2O4 hybrids possessed enhanced visible-light-responsive photocatalytic performances for Hg0 removal. Ag/BiOI/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst could be easily recovered from the reaction solution by an extra magnet and was stable in the process of Hg0 removal. Lower content of Ag was highly dispersed on the surface of BiOI/ZnFe2O4, while higher content of Ag would result in some aggregations and/or the blockages of micropore. In comparison to BiOI/ZnFe2O4, Ag deposited BiOI/ZnFe2O4 material showed lower recombination rate of electron-hole pairs. The superior Hg0 oxidation removal could correspond to good match of BiOI and ZnFe2O4, excellent fluidity and surface plasmon resonance effect of Ag0 nanoparticles, which led to higher separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes, thereby enhancing the hybrids' photocatalytic activity.

In Situ Fabrication of 3D Ag@ZnO Nanostructures for Microfluidic Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Systems

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

In this work, we develop an in situ method to grow highly controllable, sensitive, three-dimensional (3D) surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates via an optothermal effect within microfluidic devices. Implementing this approach, we fabricate SERS substrates composed of Ag@ZnO structures at prescribed locations inside microfluidic channels, sites within which current fabrication of SERS structures has been arduous. Conveniently, properties of the 3D Ag@ZnO nanostructures such as length, packing density, and coverage can also be adjusted by tuning laser irradiation parameters. After exploring the fabrication of the 3D nanostructures, we demonstrate a SERS enhancement factor of up to ∼2 × 106 and investigate the optical properties of the 3D Ag@ZnO structures through finite-difference time-domain simulations. To illustrate the potential value of our technique, low concentrations of biomolecules in the liquid state are detected. Moreover, an integrated cell-trapping function of the 3D Ag@ZnO structures records the surface chemical fingerprint of a living cell. Overall, our optothermal-effect-based fabrication technique offers an effective combination of microfluidics with SERS, resolving problems associated with the fabrication of SERS substrates in microfluidic channels. With its advantages in functionality, simplicity, and sensitivity, the microfluidic-SERS platform presented should be valuable in many biological, biochemical, and biomedical applications. PMID:25402207

Fast Neutron Detection using Pixelated CdZnTe Spectrometers

DOE PAGES

Streicher, Michael; Goodman, David; Zhu, Yuefeng; ...

2017-05-29

One important important signature of special nuclear materials (SNM) are fast neutrons. Fast neutrons have a low natural background rate and readily penetrate high atomic number materials which easily shield gamma-ray signatures. Thus, fast neutrons provide a complementary signal to gamma rays for detecting shielded SNM. Scattering kinematics dictate that a large nucleus (such as Cd or Te) will recoil with small kinetic energy after an elastic collision with a fast neutron. Charge carrier recombination and quenching further reduce the recorded energy deposited. Thus, the energy threshold of CdZnTe detectors must be very low in order to sense the smallmore » signals from these recoils. Here, the threshold was reduced to less than 5 keVee to demonstrate that the 5.9 keV x-ray line from 55Fe could be separated from electronic noise. Elastic scattering neutron interactions were observed as small energy depositions (less than 20 keVee) using digitally-sampled pulse waveforms from pixelated CdZnTe detectors. Characteristic gamma-ray lines from inelastic neutron scattering were also observed.« less

Fast Neutron Detection Using Pixelated CdZnTe Spectrometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Streicher, Michael; Goodman, David; Zhu, Yuefeng; Brown, Steven; Kiff, Scott; He, Zhong

2017-07-01

Fast neutrons are an important signature of special nuclear materials (SNMs). They have a low natural background rate and readily penetrate high atomic number materials that easily shield gamma-ray signatures. Therefore, they provide a complementary signal to gamma rays for detecting shielded SNM. Scattering kinematics dictate that a large nucleus (such as Cd or Te) will recoil with small kinetic energy after an elastic collision with a fast neutron. Charge carrier recombination and quenching further reduce the recorded energy deposited. Thus, the energy threshold of CdZnTe detectors must be very low in order to sense the small signals from these recoils. In this paper, the threshold was reduced to less than 5 keVee to demonstrate that the 5.9-keV X-ray line from 55Fe could be separated from electronic noise. Elastic scattering neutron interactions were observed as small energy depositions (less than 20 keVee) using digitally sampled pulse waveforms from pixelated CdZnTe detectors. Characteristic gamma-ray lines from inelastic neutron scattering were also observed.

Visualization of plasmon-enhanced photocarrier generation in ZnO/Ag nanogratings (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwon, Minji; Sohn, Ahrum; Cho, Yunae; Kim, Dong-Wook

2017-03-01

ZnO has attracted growing research attention as a strong candidate material for various optoelectronic device applications. It is important to understand and control the interactions between surface plasmons (SPs) and charge carriers in metal-ZnO hybrid nanostructures to improve the optical characteristics. In this work, we fabricated ZnO/Ag nanogratings using patterned polymer and Si templates. Excitation of the surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) well explained the optical reflectance and photoluminescence spectra of the ZnO/Ag nanogratings [1,2]. Nanoscopic mapping of surface photovoltage (SPV), i.e., changes in the surface potential under illumination, obtained by Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) enabled us to investigate the local behaviors of the photo-generated carriers. The magnitude and relaxation time of the measured SPV depended on the wavelength and polarization of the incident light [3]. This showed that the SP excitation in the nanogratings directly affected the creation and recombination processes of the charge carriers. All of these results suggested that SPV measurements using KPFM should be very useful for studying the SP effects in metal/semiconductor hybrid nanostructures. References [1] Gwon et al., Opt. Express 19, 5895 (2011). [2] Gwon et al., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 6, 8602 (2014). [3] Gwon et al., Sci. Rep. 5, 16727; doi: 10.1038/srep16727 (2015).

Electrochemiluminescence energy transfer-promoted ultrasensitive immunoassay using near-infrared-emitting CdSeTe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots and gold nanorods

PubMed Central

Li, Lingling; Chen, Ying; Lu, Qian; Ji, Jing; Shen, Yuanyuan; Xu, Mi; Fei, Rong; Yang, Guohai; Zhang, Kui; Zhang, Jian-Rong; Zhu, Jun-Jie

2013-01-01

The marriage of energy transfer with electrochemiluminescence has produced a new technology named electrochemiluminescence energy transfer (ECL-ET), which can realize effective and sensitive detection of biomolecules. To obtain optimal ECL-ET efficiency, perfect energy overlapped donor/acceptor pair is of great importance. Herein, we present a sensitive ECL-ET based immunosensor for the detection of tumor markers, using energy tunable CdSeTe/CdS/ZnS double shell quantum dots (QDs) and gold nanorods (GNRs) as the donor and acceptor, respectively. Firstly a facile microwave-assisted strategy for the synthesis of green- to near-infrared-emitting CdSeTe/CdS/ZnS QDs with time- and component-tunable photoluminescence was proposed. And, on the basis of the adjustable optical properties of both CdSeTe/CdS/ZnS QDs and GNRs, excellent overlap between donor emission and acceptor absorption can be obtained to ensure effective ECL-ET quenching, thus improving the sensing sensitivity. This method represents a novel approach for versatile detection of biomolecules at low concentrations. PMID:23524874

Mineralogical, textural, sulfur and lead isotope constraints on the origin of Ag-Pb-Zn mineralization at Bianjiadayuan, Inner Mongolia, NE China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Degao; Liu, Jiajun; Cook, Nigel J.; Wang, Xilong; Yang, Yongqiang; Zhang, Anli; Jiao, Yingchun

2018-04-01

The Bianjiadayuan Ag-Pb-Zn deposit (4.81 Mt. @157.4 g/t Ag and 3.94% Pb + Zn) is located in the Great Hinggan Range Pb-Zn-Ag-Cu-Mo-Sn-Fe polymetallic metallogenic belt, NE China. Vein type Pb-Zn-Ag ore bodies are primarily hosted by slate, adjacent to a Sn ± Cu ± Mo mineralized porphyry intrusion. The deposit is characterized by silver-rich ores with Ag grades up to 3000 g/t. Four primary paragenetic sequences are recognized: (I) arsenopyrite + pyrite + quartz, (II) main sulfide + quartz, (III) silver-bearing sulfosalt + quartz, and (IV) boulangerite + calcite. A subsequent supergene oxidation stage has also been identified. Hydrothermal alteration consists of an early episode of silicification, two intermediate episodes (propylitic and phyllic), and a late argillic episode. Silver mineralization primarily belongs to the late paragenetic sequence III. Freibergite is the dominant and most important Ag-mineral in the deposit. Detailed ore mineralogy of Bianjiadayuan freibergite reveals evidence of chemical heterogeneity down to the microscale. Silver-rich sulfosalts in the late paragenetic sequence III are largely derived from a series of retrograde and solid-state reactions that redistribute Ag via decomposition and exsolution during cooling, illustrating that documentation of post-mineralization processes is essential for understanding silver ore formation. Sulfur and lead isotope compositions of sulfides, and comparison with those of local various geological units, indicate that the ore-forming fluids, lead, and other metals have a magmatic origin, suggesting a close genetic association between the studied Ag-Pb-Zn veins and the local granitic intrusion. Fluid cooling coupled with decreases in fO2 and fS2 are the factors inferred to have led to a decrease of silver solubility in the hydrothermal fluid, and successively promoted extensive Ag deposition.

Ag-Modified In2O3/ZnO Nanobundles with High Formaldehyde Gas-Sensing Performance

PubMed Central

Fang, Fang; Bai, Lu; Song, Dongsheng; Yang, Hongping; Sun, Xiaoming; Sun, Hongyu; Zhu, Jing

2015-01-01

Ag-modified In2O3/ZnO bundles with micro/nano porous structures have been designed and synthesized with by hydrothermal method continuing with dehydration process. Each bundle consists of nanoparticles, where nanogaps of 10–30 nm are present between the nanoparticles, leading to a porous structure. This porous structure brings high surface area and fast gas diffusion, enhancing the gas sensitivity. Consequently, the HCHO gas-sensing performance of the Ag-modified In2O3/ZnO bundles have been tested, with the formaldehyde-detection limit of 100 ppb (parts per billion) and the response and recover times as short as 6 s and 3 s, respectively, at 300 °C and the detection limit of 100 ppb, response time of 12 s and recover times of 6 s at 100 °C. The HCHO sensing detect limitation matches the health standard limitation on the concentration of formaldehyde for indoor air. Moreover, the strategy to synthesize the nanobundles is just two-step heating and easy to scale up. Therefore, the Ag-modified In2O3/ZnO bundles are ready for industrialization and practical applications. PMID:26287205

Exploring Cd-Zn-O-S alloys for improved buffer layers in thin-film photovoltaics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Varley, J. B.; Lordi, V.; He, X.

Here, to compete with existing and more mature solar cell technologies such as crystalline Si, thin-film photovoltaics require optimization of every aspect in the device heterostructure to reach maximum efficiencies and cost effectiveness. For absorbers like CdTe, Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGSe), and Cu 2ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe), improving the n-type buffer layer partner beyond conventional CdS is one avenue that can reduce photocurrent losses and improve overall performance. Here, we use first-principles calculations based on hybrid functionals to explore alloys spanning the Cd-, Zn-, O-, and S-containing phase space to identify compositions that may be superior to common buffers like pure CdSmore » or Zn(O,S). We address issues highly correlated with device performance such as lattice-matching for improved buffer-absorber epitaxy and interface quality, dopability, the band gap for reduced absorption losses in the buffer, and the conduction-band offsets shown to facilitate improved charge separation from photoexcited carriers. We supplement our analysis with device-level simulations as parameterized from our calculations and real devices to assess our conclusions of low-Zn and O content buffers showing improved performance with respect to CdS buffers.« less

Exploring Cd-Zn-O-S alloys for improved buffer layers in thin-film photovoltaics

DOE PAGES

Varley, J. B.; Lordi, V.; He, X.; ...

2017-07-17

Here, to compete with existing and more mature solar cell technologies such as crystalline Si, thin-film photovoltaics require optimization of every aspect in the device heterostructure to reach maximum efficiencies and cost effectiveness. For absorbers like CdTe, Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGSe), and Cu 2ZnSn(S,Se) 4 (CZTSSe), improving the n-type buffer layer partner beyond conventional CdS is one avenue that can reduce photocurrent losses and improve overall performance. Here, we use first-principles calculations based on hybrid functionals to explore alloys spanning the Cd-, Zn-, O-, and S-containing phase space to identify compositions that may be superior to common buffers like pure CdSmore » or Zn(O,S). We address issues highly correlated with device performance such as lattice-matching for improved buffer-absorber epitaxy and interface quality, dopability, the band gap for reduced absorption losses in the buffer, and the conduction-band offsets shown to facilitate improved charge separation from photoexcited carriers. We supplement our analysis with device-level simulations as parameterized from our calculations and real devices to assess our conclusions of low-Zn and O content buffers showing improved performance with respect to CdS buffers.« less

The bipyridine adducts of N-phenyldithiocarbamato complexes of Zn(II) and Cd(II); synthesis, spectral, thermal decomposition studies and use as precursors for ZnS and CdS nanoparticles.

PubMed

Onwudiwe, Damian C; Strydom, Christien A

2015-01-25

Bipyridine adducts of N-phenyldithiocarbamato complexes, [ML(1)2L(2)] (M=Cd(II), Zn(II); L(1)=N-phenyldithiocarbamate, L(2)=2,2' bipyridine), have been synthesized and characterised. The decomposition of these complexes to metal sulphides has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The complexes were used as single-source precursors to synthesize MS (M=Zn, Cd) nanoparticles (NPs) passivated by hexadecyl amine (HDA). The growth of the nanoparticles was carried out at two different temperatures: 180 and 220 °C, and the optical and structural properties of the nanoparticles were studied using UV-Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), transmission emission microscopy (TEM) and powdered X-ray diffraction (p-XRD). Nanoparticles, whose average diameters are 2.90 and 3.54 nm for ZnS, and 8.96 and 9.76 nm for CdS grown at 180 and 220 °C respectively, were obtained. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of temperature sensing of the luminescent upconversion and ZnCdS nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanina, I. Yu.; Volkova, E. K.; Sagaidachnaya, E. A.; Konyukhova, J. G.; Kochubey, V. I.; Tuchin, V. V.

2018-02-01

The luminescence spectra of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and ZnCdS nanoparticles (ZnCdSNPs) were measured and analyzed in a wide temperature range: from room to human body and further to a hyperthermic temperature resulting in tissue morphology change. The results show that the luminescence signal of UCNPs and ZnCdSNPs placed within the tissue is reasonably good sensitive to temperature change and accompanied by phase transitions of lipid structures of adipose tissue. The most likely that the multiple phase transitions are associated with the different components of fat cells, such as phospholipids of cell membrane and lipids of fat droplets. In the course of fat cell heating, lipids of fat droplet first transit from a crystalline form to a liquid crystal form and then to a liquid form, which is characterized by much less scattering. The results of phase transitions of lipids were observed as the changes in the slope of the temperature dependence of the intensity of luminescence of the film with nanoparticles embedded into tissue. The obtained results confirm a high sensitivity of the luminescent UCNPs and ZnCdSNPs to the temperature variations within thin tissue samples and show a strong potential for the controllable tissue thermolysis.

Abnormal temperature dependence of conductance of single Cd-doped ZnO nanowires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Q. H.; Wan, Q.; Wang, Y. G.; Wang, T. H.

2005-06-01

Positive temperature coefficient of resistance is observed on single Cd-doped ZnO nanowires. The current along the nanowire increases linearly with the bias and saturates at large biases. The conductance is greatly enhanced either by ultraviolet illumination or infrared illumination. However, the conductance decreases with increasing temperature, in contrast to the reported temperature behavior either for ZnO nanostructures or for CdO nanoneedles. The increase of the conductance under illumination is related to surface effect and the decrease with increasing temperature to bulk effect. These results show that Cd doping does not change surface effect but affects bulk effect. Such a bulk effect could be used to realize on-chip temperature-independent varistors.

Synthesis of CdS/ZnO/graphene composite with high-efficiency photoelectrochemical activities under solar radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Weijia; Ren, Long; Qi, Xiang; Liu, Yundan; Wei, Xiaolin; Huang, Zongyu; Zhong, Jianxin

2014-04-01

A novel ternary CdS/ZnO/graphene composite has been successfully prepared by loading ZnO and CdS nanoparticles in graphene nanosheets via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The microstructures and properties have been examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS), transmission electron microscopy, Raman and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The characterization results reveal that the crystalline of the composite is very well, the graphene sheets were tightly coated with ZnO and CdS nanoparticles, and the light-harvesting was effectively strengthened. Taking photoelectrochemical test, the ternary CdS/ZnO/graphene composite exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with its foundation matrix binary composites and pure ZnO and CdS. The improved photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the enhanced light absorption, the extremely efficient charge separation, as well as superior durability of the ternary composite. It is proposed that graphene-based composites by coupling graphene to suitable, multiple semiconductors can not only greatly improve the capacity for photocatalytic, but also expand the exploration and utilization of graphene-based nanocomposites for energy conversion.

Cd-doped ZnO nano crystalline thin films prepared at 723K by spray pyrolysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joishy, Sumanth; Rajendra B., V.

2018-04-01

Ternary Zn1-xCdxO(x=0.10, 0.40, 0.70 at.%) thin films of 0.025M precursor concentration have been successfully deposited on preheated (723K) glass substrates using spray pyrolysis route. The structure, morphology and optical properties of deposited films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. X-ray diffraction study shows that the prepared films are polycrystalline in nature. 10% Cd doped ZnO film belongs to the hexagonal wurtzite system and 70% Cd doped ZnO film belongs to the cubic system, although mixed phases were formed for 40% Cd doped ZnO film. The optical transmittance spectra has shown red shift with increasing cadmium content. Optical energy band gap has been reduced with cadmium dopant.

Low Temperature Photoluminescence Characterization of Orbitally Grown CdZnTe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ritter, Timothy M.; Larson, D. J.

1998-01-01

The II-VI ternary alloy CdZnTe is a technologically important material because of its use as a lattice matched substrate for HgCdTe based devices. The increasingly stringent requirements on performance that must be met by such large area infrared detectors also necessitates a higher quality substrate. Such substrate material is typically grown using the Bridgman technique. Due to the nature of bulk semiconductor growth, gravitationally dependent phenomena can adversely affect crystalline quality. The most direct way to alleviate this problem is by crystal growth in a reduced gravity environment. Since it requires hours, even days, to grow a high quality crystal, an orbiting space shuttle or space station provides a superb platform on which to conduct such research. For well over ten years NASA has been studying the effects of microgravity semiconductor crystal growth. This paper reports the results of photoluminescence characterization performed on an arbitrary grown CdZnTe bulk crystal.

Electronic structure of CdSe-ZnS 2D nanoplatelets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cruguel, Hervé; Livache, Clément; Martinez, Bertille; Pedetti, Silvia; Pierucci, Debora; Izquierdo, Eva; Dufour, Marion; Ithurria, Sandrine; Aubin, Hervé; Ouerghi, Abdelkarim; Lacaze, Emmanuelle; Silly, Mathieu G.; Dubertret, Benoit; Lhuillier, Emmanuel

2017-04-01

Among colloidal nanocrystals, 2D nanoplatelets (NPLs) made of cadmium chalcogenides have led to especially well controlled optical features. However, the growth of core shell heterostructures has so far been mostly focused on CdS shells, while more confined materials will be more promising to decouple the emitting quantum states of the core from their external environment. Using k.p simulation, we demonstrate that a ZnS shell reduces by a factor 10 the leakage of the wavefunction into the surrounding medium. Using X-ray photoemission (XPS), we confirm that the CdSe active layer is indeed unoxidized. Finally, we build an effective electronic spectrum for these CdSe/ZnS NPLs on an absolute energy scale which is a critical set of parameters for the future integration of this material into optoelectronic devices. We determine the work function (WF) to be 4.47 eV while the material is behaving as an n-type semiconductor.

Theoretical investigation of geometries, stabilities, electronic and optical properties for advanced Ag{sub n}@(ZnO){sub 42} (n=6-18) hetero-nanostructure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Hai-Xia; Department of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117542; Wang, Xiao-Xu

The structural properties of Ag{sub n}@(ZnO){sub 42} (n=6-18) core-shell nanoparticles have been investigated by the first principles calculations, and the core-shell nanostructure with n=13 is proved to be the most stable one for the first time. Ag{sub 13}@(ZnO){sub 42} core-shell nanostructure possesses higher chemistry activity and shows a red shift phenomenon in the light of the absorption spectrum compare to the (ZnO){sub 48}, this can be confirmed by the calculated electron structure. The visible-light could be absorbed by Ag{sub 13}@(ZnO){sub 42} to improve the photo-catalysis of (ZnO){sub 48} nanostructure. Our results show good agreement with experiments.

Experimental observation of Fano effect in Ag nanoparticle-CdTe quantum dot hybrid system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gurung, Sabina; Jayabalan, J.; Singh, Asha; Khan, Salahuddin; Chari, Rama

2018-04-01

We have experimentally measured the optical properties of Ag nanoparticle-CdTe quantum dot hybrid system and compared it with that of bare CdTe quantum dot colloid. It has been shown that the photoluminescence line shape of CdTe quantum dots becomes asymmetric in presence of Ag nanoparticles. The observed changes in the PL spectrum closely match the expected changes in the line shape due to Fano interaction between discrete level and continuum levels. Our experiment shows that a very small fraction of metal nanoparticles in the metal-semiconductor hybrid is sufficient to induce such changes in line shape which is in contrary to the earlier reported theoretical prediction on metal-semiconductor hybrid.

Behaviors of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soil amended with composts.

PubMed

Gusiatin, Zygmunt Mariusz; Kulikowska, Dorota

2016-09-01

This study investigated how amendment with sewage sludge compost of different maturation times (3, 6, 12 months) affected metal (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) bioavailability, fractionation and redistribution in highly contaminated sandy clay soil. Metal transformations during long-term soil stabilization (35 months) were determined. In the contaminated soil, Cd, Ni and Zn were predominately in the exchangeable and reducible fractions, Pb in the reducible fraction and Cu in the reducible, exchangeable and oxidizable fractions. All composts decreased the bioavailability of Cd, Ni and Zn for up to 24 months, which indicates that cyclic amendment with compost is necessary. The bioavailability of Pb and Cu was not affected by compost amendment. Based on the reduced partition index (IR), metal stability in amended soil after 35 months of stabilization was in the following order: Cu > Ni = Pb > Zn > Cd. All composts were more effective in decreasing Cd, Ni and Zn bioavailability than in redistributing the metals, and increasing Cu redistribution more than that of Pb. Thus, sewage sludge compost of as little as 3 months maturation can be used for cyclic amendment of multi-metal-contaminated soil.

Structural, Electrical and Optical Properties of Cd Doped ZnO Thin Films by Reactive dc Magnetron Sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, A. Guru Sampath; Obulapathi, L.; Sarmash, T. Sofi; Rani, D. Jhansi; Maddaiah, M.; Rao, T. Subba; Asokan, K.

2015-04-01

Thin films of cadmium (Cd) (0 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 4 wt.% and 10 wt.%) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) have been deposited on a glass substrate by reactive DC magnetron sputtering. The synthesized films are characterized by glancing angle x-ray diffraction (GAXRD), UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, four probe resistivity measurement, Hall measurement system, field emission-scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive analysis by x-rays. A systematic study has been made on the structure, electrical and optical properties of Cd doped ZnO thin films as a function of Cd concentration (0 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 4 wt.% and 10 wt.%). All these films have a hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure with (0 0 2) orientation without any Cd related phase from the GAXRD patterns. The grain size was increased and maximum appears at 4 wt.% Cd concentration. The electrical resistivity of the films decreased with the Cd doping and minimum resistivity was observed at 4 wt.% Cd concentration. UV-Vis-NIR studies showed that the optical band gap of ZnO (3.37 eV) was reduced to 3.10 eV which is at 4 wt.% Cd concentration.

Atomistic tight-binding theory of excitonic splitting energies in CdX(X = Se, S and Te)/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sukkabot, Worasak; Pinsook, Udomsilp

2017-01-01

Using the atomistic tight-binding theory (TB) and a configuration interaction description (CI), we numerically compute the excitonic splitting of CdX(X = Se, S and Te)/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals with the objective to explain how types of the core materials and growth shell thickness can provide the detailed manipulation of the dark-dark (DD), dark-bright (DB) and bright-bright (BB) excitonic splitting, beneficial for the active application of quantum information. To analyze the splitting of the excitonic states, the optical band gaps, ground-state wave function overlaps and atomistic electron-hole interactions tend to be numerically demonstrated. Based on the atomistic computations, the single-particle and excitonic gaps are mainly reduced with the increasing ZnS shell thickness owing to the quantum confinement. In the range of the higher to lower energies, the order of the single-particle gaps is CdSe/ZnS, CdS/ZnS and CdTe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals, while one of the excitonic gaps is CdS/ZnS, CdSe/ZnS and CdTe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals because of the atomistic electron-hole interaction. The strongest electron-hole interactions are mainly observed in CdSe/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals. In addition, the computational results underline that the energies of the dark-dark (DD), dark-bright (DB) and bright-bright (BB) excitonic splitting are generally reduced with the increasing ZnS growth shell thickness as described by the trend of the electron-hole exchange interaction. The high-to-low splitting of the excitonic states is demonstrated in CdSe/ZnS, CdTe/ZnS and CdS/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals because of the fashion in the electron-hole exchange interaction and overlaps of the electron-hole wave functions. As the resulting calculations, it is expected that CdS/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals are the best candidates to be the source of entangled photons. Finally, the comprehensive information on the excitonic splitting can enable the use of suitable core

Concomitant Zn-Cd and Pb retention in a carbonated fluvio-glacial deposit under both static and dynamic conditions.

PubMed

Lassabatere, Laurent; Spadini, Lorenzo; Delolme, Cécile; Février, Laureline; Galvez Cloutier, Rosa; Winiarski, Thierry

2007-11-01

The chemical and physical processes involved in the retention of 10(-2)M Zn, Pb and Cd in a calcareous medium were studied under saturated dynamic (column) and static (batch) conditions. Retention in columns decreased in order: Pb>Cd approximately Zn. In the batch experiments, the same order was observed for a contact time of less than 40h and over, Pb>Cd>Zn. Stronger Pb retention is in accordance with the lower solubility of Pb carbonates. However, the equality of retained Zn and Cd does not fit the solubility constants of carbonated solids. SEM analysis revealed that heavy metals and calcareous particles are associated. Pb precipitated as individualized Zn-Cd-Ca- free carbonated crystallites. All the heavy metals were also found to be associated with calcareous particles, without any change in their porosity, pointing to a surface/lattice diffusion-controlled substitution process. Zn and Cd were always found in concomitancy, though Pb fixed separately at the particle circumferences. The Phreeqc 2.12 interactive code was used to model experimental data on the following basis: flow fractionation in the columns, precipitation of Pb as cerrusite linked to kinetically controlled calcite dissolution, and heavy metal sorption onto proton exchanging sites (presumably surface complexation onto a calcite surface). This model simulates exchanges of metals with surface protons, pH buffering and the prevention of early Zn and Cd precipitation. Both modeling and SEM analysis show a probable significant decrease of calcite dissolution along with its contamination with metals.

Solar cells based on electrodeposited thin films of ZnS, CdS, CdSSe and CdTe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weerasinghe, Ajith R.

The motivations of this research were to produce increased efficiency and low-cost solar cells. The production efficiency of Si solar cells has almost reached their theoretical limit, and reducing the manufacturing cost of Si solar cells is difficult to achieve due to the high-energy usage in material purifying and processing stages. Due to the low usage of materials and input energy, thin film solar cells have the potential to reduce the costs. CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells are already the cheapest on $/W basis. The cost of CdTe solar cells can be further reduced if all the semiconducting layers are fabricated using the electrodeposition (ED) method. ED method is scalable, low in the usage of energy and raw materials. These benefits lead to the cost effective production of semiconductors. The conventional method of fabricating CdS layers produces Cd containing waste solutions routinely, which adds to the cost of solar cells.ZnS, CdS and CdS(i-X)Sex buffer and window layers and CdTe absorber layers have been successfully electrodeposited and explored under this research investigation. These layers were fully characterised using complementary techniques to evaluate the material properties. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) studies, optical absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Raman spectroscopy were utilised to evaluate the material properties of these solid thin film layers. ZnS and CdS thin film layers were electrodeposited from Na-free chemical precursors to avoid the group I element (Na) to reduce deterioration of CdTe devices. Deposition parameters such as, growth substrates, temperature, pH, growth cathodic voltage, stirring rate, time and chemical concentrations were identified to fabricate the above semiconductors. To further optimise these layers, a heat treatment process specific to the material was developed. In addition

On the growth and photocatalytic activity of the vertically aligned ZnO nanorods grafted by CdS shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zirak, M.; Moradlou, O.; Bayati, M. R.; Nien, Y. T.; Moshfegh, A. Z.

2013-05-01

We have studied systematically photocatalytic properties of the vertically aligned ZnO@CdS core-shell nanorods where the features were grown through a multistep procedure including sol-gel for the formation of ZnO seed layer, hydrothermal process to grow ZnO nanorods, and successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) process to deposit CdS nanoshells onto the ZnO nanorods. Formation of the ZnO seed layer and vertically aligned ZnO nanorods (d ∼ 40 nm) with a hexagonal cross-section was confirmed by AFM and SEM imaging. Successful capping of ZnO nanorods with homogeneous CdS nanocrystallites (∼5 nm) was ascertained by HRTEM diffraction and imaging. Optical properties of the samples were also studied using UV-vis spectrophotometry. It was found that the absorption edge of the CdS shell has a red shift when its thickness increases. Photocatalytic activity of the samples was examined by photodecomposition of methylene blue under UV and visible lights where the maximum reaction rate constant was found to be 0.012 min-1 under UV illumination and 0.007 min-1 under visible light. The difference in catalytic activities of the ZnO@CdS core-shell nanorods under UV and visible irradiations was explained based upon the electronic structure as well as the arrangement of the energy levels in the ZnO@CdS core-shells. It is shown that the structure and photocatalytic efficiency of the samples can be tuned by manipulating the SILAR variables.

Multi-terminal Two-color ZnCdSe/ZnCdMgSe Based Quantum-well Infrared Photodetector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaya, Yasin; Ravikumar, Arvind; Chen, Guopeng; Tamargo, Maria C.; Shen, Aidong; Gmachl, Claire

Target recognition and identification applications benefits from two-color infrared (IR) detectors in the mid and long-wavelength IR regions. Currently, InGaAs/AlGaAs and GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells (QWs) grown on GaAs substrate are the most commonly used two-color QW IR photodetectors (QWIPs). However, the lattice-mismatch and the buildup of strain limit the number of QWs that can be grown, in turn increasing the dark current noise, and limiting the device detectivity.In this work, we report on two-color QWIPs based on the large conduction band offset (~1.12ev) ZnCdSe/ZnCdMgSe material system lattice matched to InP. QWIPs were designed based on a bound to quasi-bound transition, centered at 4 μm and 7 μm and each QW is repeated 50 times to eliminate the high dark current and a contact layer is inserted between the two stacks of QWs for independent electrical contacts. Wafers are processed into two step rectangular mesas by lithography and wet etching. Experiments showed absorption spectra centered at 4.9 μm and 7.6 μm at 80 K and the full width at half maximums were Δλ / λ = 21 % and Δλ / λ = 23 % , respectively. Current work studies the Johnson and the background noise limited detectivities of these QWIPs. Current address: School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Superhydrophobic Ag decorated ZnO nanostructured thin film as effective surface enhanced Raman scattering substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayram, Naidu Dhanpal; Sonia, S.; Poongodi, S.; Kumar, P. Suresh; Masuda, Yoshitake; Mangalaraj, D.; Ponpandian, N.; Viswanathan, C.

2015-11-01

The present work is an attempt to overcome the challenges in the fabrication of super hydrophobic silver decorated zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructure thin films via thermal evaporation process. The ZnO nanowire thin films are prepared without any surface modification and show super hydrophobic nature with a contact angle of 163°. Silver is further deposited onto the ZnO nanowire to obtain nanoworm morphology. Silver decorated ZnO (Ag@ZnO) thin films are used as substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) studies. The formation of randomly arranged nanowire and silver decorated nanoworm structure is confirmed using FESEM, HR-TEM and AFM analysis. Crystallinity and existence of Ag on ZnO are confirmed using XRD and XPS studies. A detailed growth mechanism is discussed for the formation of the nanowires from nanobeads based on various deposition times. The prepared SERS substrate reveals a reproducible enhancement of 3.082 × 107 M for Rhodamine 6G dye (R6G) for 10-10 molar concentration per liter. A higher order of SERS spectra is obtained for a contact angle of 155°. Thus the obtained thin films show the superhydrophobic nature with a highly enhanced Raman spectrum and act as SERS substrates. The present nanoworm morphology shows a new pathway for the construction of semiconductor thin films for plasmonic studies and challenges the orderly arranged ZnO nanorods, wires and other nano structure substrates used in SERS studies.

Spectroscopic properties of Arx-Zn and Arx-Ag+ (x = 1,2) van der Waals complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oyedepo, Gbenga A.; Peterson, Charles; Schoendorff, George; Wilson, Angela K.

2013-03-01

Potential energy curves have been constructed using coupled cluster with singles, doubles, and perturbative triple excitations (CCSD(T)) in combination with all-electron and pseudopotential-based multiply augmented correlation consistent basis sets [m-aug-cc-pV(n + d)Z; m = singly, doubly, triply, n = D,T,Q,5]. The effect of basis set superposition error on the spectroscopic properties of Ar-Zn, Ar2-Zn, Ar-Ag+, and Ar2-Ag+ van der Waals complexes was examined. The diffuse functions of the doubly and triply augmented basis sets have been constructed using the even-tempered expansion. The a posteriori counterpoise scheme of Boys and Bernardi and its generalized variant by Valiron and Mayer has been utilized to correct for basis set superposition error (BSSE) in the calculated spectroscopic properties for diatomic and triatomic species. It is found that even at the extrapolated complete basis set limit for the energetic properties, the pseudopotential-based calculations still suffer from significant BSSE effects unlike the all-electron basis sets. This indicates that the quality of the approximations used in the design of pseudopotentials could have major impact on a seemingly valence-exclusive effect like BSSE. We confirm the experimentally determined equilibrium internuclear distance (re), binding energy (De), harmonic vibrational frequency (ωe), and C1Π ← X1Σ transition energy for ArZn and also predict the spectroscopic properties for the low-lying excited states of linear Ar2-Zn (X1Σg, 3Πg, 1Πg), Ar-Ag+ (X1Σ, 3Σ, 3Π, 3Δ, 1Σ, 1Π, 1Δ), and Ar2-Ag+ (X1Σg, 3Σg, 3Πg, 3Δg, 1Σg, 1Πg, 1Δg) complexes, using the CCSD(T) and MR-CISD + Q methods, to aid in their experimental characterizations.

Interaction of Cd and Zn toxicity for Folsomia candida Willem (Collembola: Isotomidae) in relation to bioavailability in soil

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Van Gestel, C.A.M.; Hensbergen, P.J.

1997-06-01

The use of toxicity tests in which each chemical is tested separately is inadequate for assessing the potential risk of complex mixtures of chemicals for soil ecosystems. In the present study, the effects of Cd and Zn, alone or in combination, on the survival, growth, and reproduction of the collembolan Folsomia candida were determined after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of exposure in an artificial soil. The water solubility of Cd in the soil was significantly increased by the presence of Zn, whereas Cd did not affect the water solubility of Zn. In spite of this, uptake of Cd ormore » Zn in the animals was not affected by the presence of the other metal, suggesting that water solubility does not determine the uptake of these metals in F. candida. For both Cd and Zn, reproduction was the most sensitive parameter, with 50% effective concentration (EC50) values of 51 and 683 {micro}g/g dry soil, respectively, after 6 weeks. These values corresponded with internal concentrations of 44 {micro}g Cd/g and 14 {micro}g Zn/g dry soil, respectively. Although a proper comparison of the effects of mixtures of the metals with the effects of the individual metals was sometimes hampered by the nonsimilarity of dose-response relationships, it may be concluded that the effects of the mixture of Cd and Zn on the growth of F. candida are antagonistic (EC50 significantly greater than 1.0 toxic unit), while the effects on reproduction are additive (EC50 = 1.0 toxic unit). Similar conclusions could be drawn for EC50s expressed on the basis of total and water-soluble soil concentrations as well as on the basis of internal concentrations in animals. Analysis of the combined effects of Cd and Zn at the 10% effective concentration level did not change these conclusions.« less

Luminescence of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots infiltrated into an opal matrix

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gruzintsev, A. N.; Emelchenko, G. A.; Masalov, V. M.

The effect of the photonic band gap in the photonic crystal, the synthesized SiO{sub 2} opal with embedded CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, on its luminescence in the visible spectral region is studied. It is shown that the position of the photonic band gap in the luminescence and reflectance spectra for the infiltrated opal depends on the diameter of the constituent nanospheres and on the angle of recording the signal. The optimal conditions for embedding the CdSe/ZnS quantum dots from the solution into the opal matrix are determined. It is found that, for the opal-CdSe/ZnS nanocomposites, the emission intensity decreases and themore » luminescence decay time increases in the spatial directions, in which the spectral positions of the photonic band gap and the luminescence peak of the quantum dots coincide.« less

Structural, optical, and photoluminescence characterization of electron beam evaporated ZnS/CdSe nanoparticles thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, S. H.; Ali, H. M.

2011-01-01

Structural, optical, and photoluminescence investigations of ZnS capped with CdSe films prepared by electron beam evaporation are presented. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the ZnS/CdSe nanoparticles films contain cubic cadmium selenide and hexagonal zinc sulfide crystals and the ZnS grain sizes increased with increasing ZnS thickness. The refractive index was evaluated in terms of envelope method, which has been suggested by Swanepoel in the transparent region. The refractive index values were found to increase with increasing ZnS thickness. However, the optical band gap and the extinction coefficient were decreased with increasing ZnS thickness. Photoluminescence (PL) investigations revealed the presence of two broad emission bands. The ZnS thickness significantly influenced the PL intensities.

Infrared LED Enhanced Spectroscopic CdZnTe Detector Working under High Fluxes of X-rays

PubMed Central

Pekárek, Jakub; Dědič, Václav; Franc, Jan; Belas, Eduard; Rejhon, Martin; Moravec, Pavel; Touš, Jan; Voltr, Josef

2016-01-01

This paper describes an application of infrared light-induced de-polarization applied on a polarized CdZnTe detector working under high radiation fluxes. We newly demonstrate the influence of a high flux of X-rays and simultaneous 1200-nm LED illumination on the spectroscopic properties of a CdZnTe detector. CdZnTe detectors operating under high radiation fluxes usually suffer from the polarization effect, which occurs due to a screening of the internal electric field by a positive space charge caused by photogenerated holes trapped at a deep level. Polarization results in the degradation of detector charge collection efficiency. We studied the spectroscopic behavior of CdZnTe under various X-ray fluxes ranging between 5×105 and 8×106 photons per mm2 per second. It was observed that polarization occurs at an X-ray flux higher than 3×106 mm−2·s−1. Using simultaneous illumination of the detector by a de-polarizing LED at 1200 nm, it was possible to recover X-ray spectra originally deformed by the polarization effect. PMID:27690024

Structural and optical properties of DC magnetron sputtered ZnO films on glass substrate and their modification by Ag ions implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, R.; Afzal, Naveed; Amjad, U.; Jabbar, S.; Hussain, T.; Hussnain, A.

2017-07-01

This work is focused on investigating the effects of deposition time and Ag ions implantation on structural and optical properties of ZnO film. The ZnO film was prepared on glass substrate by pulsed DC magnetron sputtering of pure Zn target in reactive oxygen environment for 2 h, 3 h, 4 h and 5 h respectively. X-ray diffraction results revealed polycrystalline ZnO film whose crystallinity was improved with increase of the deposition time. The morphological features indicated agglomeration of smaller grains into larger ones by increasing the deposition time. The UV-vis spectroscopy analysis depicted a small decrease in the band gap of ZnO from 3.36 eV to 3.27 eV with increase of deposition time. The Ag ions implantation in ZnO films deposited for 5 h on glass was carried out by using Pelletron Accelerator at different ions fluences ranging from 1  ×  1011 ions cm-2 to 2  ×  1012 ions cm-2. XRD patterns of Ag ions implanted ZnO did not show significant change in crystallite size by increasing ions fluence from 1  ×  1011 ions cm-2 to 5  ×  1011 ions cm-2. However, with further increase of the ions fluence, the crystallite size was decreased. The band gap of Ag ions implanted ZnO indicated anomalous variations with increase of the ions fluence.

Strong mechanical adhesion of gold electroless contacts on CdZnTe deposited by alcoholic solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benassi, G.; Nasi, L.; Bettelli, M.; Zambelli, N.; Calestani, D.; Zappettini, A.

2017-02-01

CdZnTe crystals are nowadays employed as X-ray detectors for a number of applications, such as medical imaging, security, and environmental monitoring. One of the main difficulties connected with CdZnTe-based detector processing is the poor contact adhesion that affect bonding procedures and device long term stability. We have shown that it is possible to obtain mechanically stable contacts by common electroless deposition using alcoholic solutions instead of water solutions. The contacts show blocking current-voltage characteristic that is required for obtaining spectroscopic detectors. Nanoscale-resolved chemical analysis indicated that the improved mechanical adhesion is due to a better control of the stoichiometry of the CdZnTe layer below the contact.

Phototodynamic activity of zinc monocarboxyphenoxy phthalocyane (ZnMCPPc) conjugated to gold silver (AuAg) nanoparticles in melanoma cancer cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manoto, Sello L.; Oluwole, David O.; Malabi, Rudzani; Maphanga, Charles; Ombinda-Lemboumba, Saturnin; Nyokong, Tebello; Mthunzi-Kufa, Patience

2017-02-01

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive therapeutic modality for the treatment of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. In PDT of cancer, irradiation with light of a specific wavelength leads to activation of a photosensitizer which results in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which induces cell death. Many phthalocyanine photosensitizers are hydrophobic and insoluble in water, which limits their therapeutic efficiency. Consequently, advanced delivery systems and strategies are needed to improve the effectiveness of these photosensitizers. Nanoparticles have shown promising results in increasing aqueous solubility, bioavailability, stability and delivery of photosensitizers to their target. This study investigated the photodynamic activity of zinc monocarboxyphenoxy phthalocyanine (ZnMCPPc) conjugated to gold silver (AuAg) nanoparticles in melanoma cancer cells. The photodynamic activity of ZnMCPPc conjugated to AuAg nanoparticles were evaluated using cellular morphology, viability, proliferation and cytotoxicity. Untreated cells showed no changes in cellular morphology, proliferation and cytotoxicity. However, photoactivated ZnMCPPc conjugated to AuAg nanoparticles showed changes in cell morphology and a dose dependent decrease in cellular viability, proliferation and an increase in cell membrane damage. The ZnMCPPc conjugated to AuAg nanoparticles used in this study was highly effective in inducing cell death of melanoma cancer cells.

Syntheses, crystal structures and photoluminescence properties of five Cd/Zn-organic frameworks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qing; Xue, Dong-Xu; Zhang, Yu-Feng; Zhang, Zong-Hui; Gao, Ziwei

2018-07-01

Luminescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have displayed extensively potential applications for photocatalysis, photoluminescence, electroluminescence, chemical sensors et al. Herein, five new Cd/Zn-organic frameworks of [Cd(HL)C2H5OH] (1), [Cd(HL)(2,2‧-Bpy)H2O] (2), [Cd2(HL)2(Phen)2] (3), [Zn(HL)BIMB] (4), [Cd3(HL)3(4,4‧-Bpy)DMF]·(H2O) (5) have been deliberately constructed via solvothermal reactions of d10 transition metal salts, i.e. Cd(NO3)2•4H2O or Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, and a V-shaped semi-rigid organic linker of 4,4'-(hydroxymethanediyl) dibenzoic acid (H3L) along with the auxiliary poly-nitrogen ligands of 2,2‧-Bpy(2,2‧-bipyridine), Phen(phenanthroline), BIMB(1,1‧-benzene-1,4-diyldimethanediyl-bis-1H-imidazole) and 4,4‧-Bpy(4,4‧-bipyridine). The crystal structures of compounds 1-5 were precisely determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Thermogravimetic analysis (TGA). As revealed by SC-XRD, the isolated 1 presents a 2-periodic framework encompassing side-by-side channel-typed helical tubes. Compounds 2-4 display Z-shaped 1-periodic single chains, concomitant with twin chains and tubular structure, respectively. Interestingly, compound 5 demonstrates a two-fold interpenetrated 3-periodic skeleton in the presence of a rigid pillar of 4,4‧-Bpy. Additionally, photoluminescence properties of 1-5 were lastly investigated.

Mechanical, structural and thermal properties of Ag-Cu and ZnO reinforced polylactide nanocomposite films.

PubMed

Ahmed, Jasim; Arfat, Yasir Ali; Castro-Aguirre, Edgar; Auras, Rafael

2016-05-01

Plasticized polylactic acid (PLA) based nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporating polyethylene glycol (PEG) and two selected nanoparticles (NPs) [silver-copper (Ag-Cu) alloy (<100 nm) and zinc oxide (ZnO) (<50 and <100 nm)] through solvent casting method. Incorporation of Ag-Cu alloy into the PLA/PEG matrix increased the glass transition temperature (Tg) significantly. The crystallinity of the nanocomposites (NCs) was significantly influenced by NP incorporation as evidenced from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The PLA nanocomposite reinforced with NPs exhibited much higher tensile strength than that of PLA/PEG blend. Melt rheology of NCs exhibited a shear-thinning behavior. The mechanical property drastically reduced with a loading of NPs, which is associated with degradation of PLA. SEM micrographs exhibited that both Ag-Cu alloy and ZnO NPs were dispersed well in the PLA film matrix. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Construction of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/ZnO nanorods/Ag nanoparticles hybrid coating on Ti implants for enhanced antibacterial activity and biocompatibility.

PubMed

Xiang, Yiming; Li, Jun; Liu, Xiangmei; Cui, Zhenduo; Yang, Xianjin; Yeung, K W K; Pan, Haobo; Wu, Shuilin

2017-10-01

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Ag/ZnO nanorods coating were successfully prepared on the surface of Ti metallic implants using a hydrothermal method and subsequent spin-coating of mixtures of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and silver nanoparticles. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Ag/ZnO nanorods coating exhibited excellent antibacterial efficacy of over 96% against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli when the initial content of Ag nanoparticles was over 3wt%. In addition, the release of both silver and zinc could last for over a hundred days due to the enwrapping of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid). Proliferation of mouse calvarial cells exhibited minimal cytotoxicity on the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Ag/ZnO coating with an initial content of Ag nanoparticles of 1wt% and 3wt%, while it inhibited cell proliferation once this value was increased to 6wt%. The results revealed that this poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Ag/ZnO composite could provide a long-lasting antibacterial approach and good cytocompatibility, thus exhibiting considerable potential for biomedical application in orthopedic and dental implants with excellent self-antibacterial activity and good biocompatibility. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Template-free synthesis of porous ZnO/Ag microspheres as recyclable and ultra-sensitive SERS substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yanjun; Xu, Chunxiang; Lu, Junfeng; Zhu, Zhu; Zhu, Qiuxiang; Manohari, A. Gowri; Shi, Zengliang

2018-01-01

The porous structured zinc oxide (ZnO) microspheres decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been fabricated as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for ultra-sensitive, highly reproducible and stable biological/chemical sensing of various organic molecules. The ZnO microspheres were hydrothermally synthesized without any template, and the Ag NPs decorated on microspheres via photochemical reaction in situ, which provided stable Ag/ZnO contact to achieve a sensitive SERS response. It demonstrates a higher enhancement factor (EF) of 2.44 × 1011 and a lower detection limit of 10-11 M-10-12 M. This porous SERS substrate could also be self-cleaned through a photocatalytic process and then further recycled for the detection of same or different molecules, such as phenol red (PhR), dopamine (DA) and glucose (GLU) with ultra-low concentration and it possessed a sensitive response. The excellent performances are attributed to morphology of porous microspheres, hybrid structure of semiconductor/metal and corresponding localized field enhancement of surface plasmons. Therefore, it is expected to design the recyclable ultra-sensitive SERS sensors for the detection of biological molecules and organic pollutant monitoring.

Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction using a Silver-Zinc Alloy [CO 2 Electroreduction on a Ag-Zn Alloy

DOE PAGES

Hatsukade, Toru; Kuhl, Kendra P.; Cave, Etosha R.; ...

2017-02-20

We report on CO 2 electroreduction activity and selectivity of a polycrystalline AgZn foil in aqueous bicarbonate electrolyte. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements show that the alloy foil was slightly enriched in zinc both at the surface and in the bulk, with a surface alloy composition of 61.3±5.4 at % zinc and with Ag 5Zn 8 as the most prominent bulk phase. AgZn is active for CO 2 reduction; CO is the main product, likely due to the weak CO binding energy of the surface, with methane and methanol emerging as minor products. Compared to puremore » silver and pure zinc foils, enhancements in activity and selectivity for methane and methanol are observed. A five-fold increase is observed in the combined partial current densities for methane and methanol at –1.43 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), representing a four- to six-fold increase in faradaic efficiency. Here, such enhancements indicate the existence of a synergistic effect between silver and zinc at the surface of the alloy that contributes to the enhanced formation of further reduced products.« less

Electrochemical EDTA recycling after soil washing of Pb, Zn and Cd contaminated soil.

PubMed

Pociecha, Maja; Kastelec, Damijana; Lestan, Domen

2011-08-30

Recycling of chelant decreases the cost of EDTA-based soil washing. Current methods, however, are not effective when the spent soil washing solution contains more than one contaminating metal. In this study, we applied electrochemical treatment of the washing solution obtained after EDTA extraction of Pb, Zn and Cd contaminated soil. A sacrificial Al anode and stainless steel cathode in a conventional electrolytic cell at pH 10 efficiently removed Pb from the solution. The method efficiency, specific electricity and Al consumption were significantly higher for solutions with a higher initial metal concentration. Partial replacement of NaCl with KNO(3) as an electrolyte (aggressive Cl(-) are required to prevent passivisation of the Al anode) prevented EDTA degradation during the electrolysis. The addition of FeCl(3) to the acidified washing solution prior to electrolysis improved Zn removal. Using the novel method 98, 73 and 66% of Pb, Zn and Cd, respectively, were removed, while 88% of EDTA was preserved in the treated washing solution. The recycled EDTA retained 86, 84 and 85% of Pb, Zn and Cd extraction potential from contaminated soil, respectively. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of neutron-monitor detector using liquid organic scintillator coupled with 6Li + ZnS(Ag) Sheet.

PubMed

Sato, Tatsuhiko; Endo, Akira; Yamaguchi, Yasuhiro; Takahashi, Fumiaki

2004-01-01

A phoswitch-type detector has been developed for monitoring neutron doses in high-energy accelerator facilities. The detector is composed of a liquid organic scintillator (BC501A) coupled with ZnS(Ag) sheets doped with 6Li. The dose from neutrons with energies above 1 MeV is evaluated from the light output spectrum of the BC501A by applying the G-function, which relates the spectrum to the neutron dose directly. The dose from lower energy neutrons, on the other hand, is estimated from the number of scintillations emitted from the ZnS(Ag) sheets. Characteristics of the phoswitch-type detector were studied experimentally in some neutron fields. It was found from the experiments that the detector has an excellent property of pulse-shape discrimination between the scintillations of BC501A and the ZnS(Ag) sheets. The experimental results also indicate that the detector is capable of reproducing doses from thermal neutrons as well as neutrons with energies from one to several tens of megaelectronvolts (MeV).

Determining provenance of marine metal pollution in French bivalves using Cd, Zn and Pb isotopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiel, Alyssa E.; Weis, Dominique; Cossa, Daniel; Orians, Kristin J.

2013-11-01

Cadmium, Zn and Pb isotopic compositions (MC-ICP-MS) and elemental concentrations (HR-ICP-MS) have been used to distinguish between natural and anthropogenic sources of these metals in bivalves collected from the coastlines of France (English Channel, Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts). The Cd isotopic signatures (δ114Cd = -1.08‰ to -0.52‰) exhibited by bivalves from the coastlines of France, excluding those from NE France, are within the range of those exhibited by bivalves from the USA East coast (δ114Cd = -1.20‰ to -0.54‰). This indicates the high prevalence of industry, as well as the low natural contributions of Cd from North Atlantic waters in both regions. Thus, the significance of anthropogenic Cd sources is similar. These significant anthropogenic contributions are identified for bivalves with a large range in tissue Cd concentrations. Importantly, French bivalves from the Gironde estuary and Marennes-Oléron basin (regions of historic and modern importance for oyster farming, respectively) exhibited the highest Cd levels of the study. Their Cd isotopic signatures indicate historical smelting emissions remain the primary Cd source despite the cessation of local smelting activities in 1986 and subsequent remedial efforts. No significant variability is observed in the δ66Zn values of the French bivalves (∼0.53‰), with the exception of the much heavier compositions exhibited by oysters from the polluted Gironde estuary (1.19-1.27‰). Lead isotopes do not fractionate during processing like Cd and Zn. They can, therefore, be used to identify emissions from industrial processes and the consumption of unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel as metal sources to French bivalves. Cadmium and Zn isotopes are successfully used here as tracers of anthropogenic processing emissions and are combined with Pb isotope "fingerprinting" techniques to identify metal sources.

Discontinuous precipitation in a Cd-6 at.% Ag alloy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Manna, I.; Bala, P.K.; Pabi, S.K.

1996-11-01

Discontinuous precipitation (DP) in a Cd-6 at.% Ag alloy has been investigated for the first time. The precipitate phase maintains a lamellar morphology and statistically constant interlamellar spacing under a given isothermal condition in the temperature range studied (333--523 K). The interlamellar spacing increases with an increase in isothermal temperature. The reaction front velocity registers a typical C-curve variation with the inverse of temperature. The reaction rate is maximum at 470 K. The predicted upper limit of DP occurrence in this alloy is 23 K lower than the concerned equilibrium solvus temperature. Continuous precipitation accompanies DP at all temperatures, especiallymore » beyond a certain time, and adversely affects the growth kinetics of DP colonies by reducing the local chemical driving force and/or posing physical hindrance to the reaction front migration. An extensive kinetic analysis of DP using the models by Turnbull, Aaronson and Liu, and Petermann and Hornbogen has yielded the grain boundary chemical diffusivity data in Cd-6 At.% Ag for the first time, the activation energy of which lies in the range 55--77 kJ/mol.« less

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of the photocatalytic performance of Ag-CdMoO{sub 4} solar light driven plasmonic photocatalyst

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adhikari, Rajesh; Malla, Shova; Gyawali, Gobinda

2013-09-01

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Ag-CdMoO{sub 4} solar light driven photocatalyst was successfully synthesized. • Photocatalyst exhibited strong absorption in the visible region. • Photocatalytic activity was significantly enhanced. • Enhanced activity was caused by the SPR effect induced by Ag nanoparticles. - Abstract: Ag-CdMoO{sub 4} plasmonic photocatalyst was synthesized in ethanol/water mixture by photo assisted co-precipitation method at room temperature. As synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analyzer. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by performing the degradation experiment over methylenemore » blue (MB) and indigo carmine (IC) as model dyes under simulated solar light irradiation. The results revealed that the Ag-CdMoO{sub 4} showed the higher photocatalytic performance as compared to CdMoO{sub 4} nanoparticles. Dispersion of Ag nanoparticles over the surface of CdMoO{sub 4} nanoparticles causes the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and enhances the broad absorption in the entire visible region of the solar spectrum. Hence, dispersion of Ag nanoparticles over CdMoO{sub 4} nanoparticles could be the better alternative to enhance the absorption of visible light by scheelite crystal family for effective photocatalysis.« less

Nanoheterostructures with CdTe/ZnMgSeTe Quantum Dots for Single-Photon Emitters Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorokin, S. V.; Sedova, I. V.; Belyaev, K. G.; Rakhlin, M. V.; Yagovkina, M. A.; Toropov, A. A.; Ivanov, S. V.

2018-03-01

Data on the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technology, design, and luminescent properties of heterostructures with CdTe/Zn(Mg)(Se)Te quantum dots on InAs(001) substrates are presented. X-ray diffraction has been used to study short-period ZnTe/MgTe/MgSe superlattices used as wide-bandgap barriers in structures with CdTe/ZnTe quantum dots for the effective confinement of holes. It is shown that the design of these superlattices must take into account the replacement of Te atoms by selenium on MgSe/ZnTe and MgTe/MgSe heterointerfaces. Heterostructures with CdTe/Zn(Mg)(Se)Te quantum dots exhibit photoluminescence at temperatures up to 300 K. The spectra of microphotoluminescence at T = 10 K display a set of emission lines from separate CdTe/ZnTe quantum dots, the surface density of which is estimated at 1010 cm-2.

Decreasing Ni, Cu, Cd, and Zn heavy metal magnetite-bentonite nanocomposites and adsorption isotherm study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eskandari, M.; Zakeri Khatir, M.; Khodadadi Darban, A.; Meshkini, M.

2018-04-01

This present study was conducted to investigate the effect of magnetite-bentonite nanocomposite on heavy metal removal from an effluent. For this purpose, magnetite-bentonite nanocomposite was prepared through the chemical method and characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, followed by studying the effect of produced nanocomposite on the removal of Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ heavy metal ions. The results showed that adsorption capacity of magnetite-bentonite nanocomposites for the studied ions is in the order of Zn2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Ni2+. Adsorption isotherms were drawn for Ni2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+ cations and found that cations adsorption on nanocomposite fit into Langmuir model.

Study on the mechanism of using IR illumination to improve the carrier transport performance of CdZnTe detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Yifei; Zhang, Jijun; Lin, Liwen; Lai, Jianming; Min, Jiahua; Liang, Xiaoyan; Huang, Jian; Tang, Ke; Wang, Linjun

2018-04-01

Different wavelength IR light (770-1150 nm) was used to evaluate the effect of IR light on the carrier transport performance of CdZnTe detector. The effective mobility-lifetime product (μτ*) of CdZnTe achieved 10-2 cm2 V-1 when the IR wavelength was in the range of 820-920 nm, but decreased to 1 × 10-4 cm2 V-1 when the wavelength was longer than 920 nm. The mechanism about how IR light affecting the carrier transport property of CdZnTe detector was analyzed with Shockley-Read-Hall model. The defect of doubly ionized Cd vacancy ([VCd]2-) was found to be the main factor that assist IR light affecting the μτ of CdZnTe detector. The photoconductive experiment under 770-1150 nm IR illumination was carried out, and three kinds of photocurrent curve were detected and analyzed by solving the Hecht equation. The experiments demonstrated the effect of [VCd]2- defect on the carrier transport property of CdZnTe detector under IR illumination.

Core-shell solar cell fabrication using heterostructure of ZnO-nanowires arrays decorated with sputtered CdTe-nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akbarnejad, Elaheh; Dehghan Nayeri, Fatemeh; Ghoranneviss, Mahmood

2018-03-01

Core-shell heterostructures of ZnO-NWs/CdTe-NPs were fabricated through covering ZnO-NWs arrays using CdTe-NPs and the room temperature RF magnetron sputtering method. The influence of different CdTe-NPs deposition time (5, 20, 40 and 60 min) on the physical properties of core-shell heterostructures were investigated. In order to achieve the highest coverage level and a wide range of optical absorption at a visible range for a ZnO-NWs/CdTe-NPs (60 min) array, FTO/ZnO-NWs/CdTe-NPs (60 min)/Ni/Au core-shell solar cells were used. Solar cell fabrication was performed by soaking the samples in a saturated CdCl2 solution in methanol and a post-annealing treatment at 400 °C for 1 h in air which led to grain growth, the passivation of deep level defects, and the decrease of stacking faults. Short-circuit current and power conversion efficiency of the fabricated cell under illumination with visible light AM1.5 (100 mW cm-2) were 13.3 mA cm-2 and 3.41%, respectively. It was found that introducing a thin interfacial layer of CdSe to the configuration (FTO/ZnO-NWs/CdSe (10 nm)/CdTe-NPs (60 min)/Ni/Au) led to a 5.58% enhancement of photovoltaic performance of the solar cell (20.9 mA cm-2), which is 63.6% more than that of the same configuration without CdSe.

Preparation of cauliflower-like CdS/ZnS/ZnO nanostructure and its photoelectric properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhifeng; Guo, Keying; Wang, Yun; Zheng, Xuerong; Ya, Jing; Li, Junwei; Han, Li; Liu, Zhichao; Han, Jianhua

2014-06-01

Cauliflower-like CdS/ZnS/ZnO nanostructure is fabricated via a simple hydrothermal method. Factors such as concentration of reaction solution, reaction temperature, as well as reaction time in the synthetic process are investigated, and the working mechanism of the nanostructure is suggested. Hydrogen generation efficiency of 4.69 % at 0.29 V versus saturated calomel electrode is achieved using synthesized nanostructure as electrode due to the improved absorption and appropriate energy gap structure, which is confirmed by enhanced absorption spectrum. The expected products have potential application in photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Electrodeposition of ZnO-doped films as window layer for Cd-free CIGS-based solar cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsin, Fabien; Vénérosy, Amélie; Hildebrandt, Thibaud; Hariskos, Dimitrios; Naghavi, Negar; Lincot, Daniel; Rousset, Jean

2016-02-01

The Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cell technology has made a steady progress within the last decade reaching efficiency up to 22.3% on laboratory scale, thus overpassing the highest efficiency for polycrystalline silicon solar cells. High efficiency CIGS modules employ a so-called buffer layer of cadmium sulfide CdS deposited by Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD), which presence and Cd-containing waste present some environmental concerns. A second potential bottleneck for CIGS technology is its window layer made of i-ZnO/ZnO:Al, which is deposited by sputtering requiring expensive vacuum equipment. A non-vacuum deposition of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) relying on simpler equipment with lower investment costs will be more economically attractive, and could increase competitiveness of CIGS-based modules with the mainstream silicon-based technologies. In the frame of Novazolar project, we have developed a low-cost aqueous solution photo assisted electrodeposition process of the ZnO-based window layer for high efficiency CIGS-based solar cells. The window layer deposition have been first optimized on classical CdS buffer layer leading to cells with efficiencies similar to those measured with the sputtered references on the same absorber (15%). The the optimized ZnO doped layer has been adapted to cadmium free devices where the CdS is replaced by chemical bath deposited zinc oxysulfide Zn(S,O) buffer layer. The effect of different growth parameters has been studied on CBD-Zn(S,O)-plated co-evaporated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 substrates provided by the Zentrum für Sonnenenergie-und Wasserstoff-Forschung (ZSW). This optimization of the electrodeposition of ZnO:Cl on CIGS/Zn(S,O) stacks led to record efficiency of 14%, while the reference cell with a sputtered (Zn,Mg)O/ZnO:Al window layer has an efficiency of 15.2%.

Extraction and isolation of the salidroside-type metabolite from zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance*

PubMed Central

Xing, Yan; Peng, Hong-yun; Li, Xia; Zhang, Meng-xi; Gao, Ling-ling; Yang, Xiao-e

2012-01-01

The active metabolite in the post-harvested biomass of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii Hance from phytoextraction is of great interest in China. The current study demonstrates that a salidroside-type metabolite can be yielded from the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator S. alfredii biomass by means of sonication/ethanol extraction and macroporous resin column (AB-8 type) isolation. The concentrations of Zn and Cd in the salidroside-type metabolite were below the limitation of the national standards. PMID:23024051

Hydrothermal growth and luminescent properties of nonpolar a-plane (11 2 - 0) ZnCdO films for light-emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baik, Kwang Hyeon; Kim, Jimin; Jang, Soohwan

2018-03-01

Nonpolar a-plane ZnCdO films have been obtained on a-plane GaN using a simple low-cost hydrothermal growth method at the low temperature of 80 °C. The morphological, structural, optical, and electrical properties of a-plane ZnCdO films with various Cd contents have been investigated and compared. The photoluminescence peak of the a-plane Zn0.957Cd 0.043O film, was observed to be centered at 429 nm at 25 °C. We demonstrated a heterostructure light-emitting diode (LED) using nonpolar n-type Zn0.957Cd0.043O/p-type GaN films. The rectifying behavior of the current-voltage characteristics was observed with a turn-on voltage of 5 V. The electroluminescence of the LED showed emission peaks including 430 nm, which indicates the near-band-edge emission of a-plane Zn0.957Cd0.043O at 25 °C.

Optimization of {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) Scintillator Light Yield Using Geant4

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yehuda-Zada, Y.; Ben-Gurion University; Pritchard, K.

2015-07-01

Neutrons provide an effective tool to probe materials structure. Neutron diffraction is a method to determine the atomic and magnetic structure of a material based on neutron scattering. By this method a collimated incident beam of thermal neutrons heat the examined sample and based on the obtained diffraction pattern information on the structure of the material is provided. Research for developing a novel cold neutron detector for Chromatic Analysis Neutron Diffractometer Or Reflectometer (CANDOR) is underway at the NIST center for neutron research. The system unique design is aimed to provide over ten times fold faster analysis of materials thanmore » conventional system. In order to achieve the fast analysis a large number of neutron detectors is required. A key design constraint for this detector is the thickness of the neutron sensitive element. This is met using {sup 6}LiF:ZnS(Ag) scintillation material with embedded wavelength shifting (WLS) fibers conducting scintillation light to silicon photomultiplier photo-sensors. The detector sensitivity is determined by both the neutron capture probability ({sup 6}Li density) and the detectable light output produced by the ZnS(Ag) ionization, the latter of which is hindered by the fluorescence absorption of the scintillation light by the ZnS. Tradeoffs between the neutron capture probability, stimulated light production and light attenuation for determining the optimal stoichiometry of the {sup 6}LiF and ZnS(Ag) as well as the volume ratio of scintillator and fiber. Simulations performed using the GEANT4 Monte Carlo package were made in order to optimize the detector design. GEANT4 enables the investigation of the neutron interaction with the detector, the ionization process and the light transfer process following the nuclear process. The series of conversions required for this detector were modelled: - A cold neutron enters the sensor and is captured by {sup 6}Li in the scintillator mixture ({sup 6}Li (n,α) {sup

Mini Compton Camera Based on an Array of Virtual Frisch-Grid CdZnTe Detectors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Wonho; Bolotnikov, Aleksey; Lee, Taewoong

In this study, we constructed a mini Compton camera based on an array of CdZnTe detectors and assessed its spectral and imaging properties. The entire array consisted of 6×6 Frisch-grid CdZnTe detectors, each with a size of 6×6 ×15 mm 3. Since it is easier and more practical to grow small CdZnTe crystals rather than large monolithic ones, constructing a mosaic array of parallelepiped crystals can be an effective way to build a more efficient, large-volume detector. With the fully operational CdZnTe array, we measured the energy spectra for 133Ba -, 137Cs -, 60Co-radiation sources; we also located these sourcesmore » using a Compton imaging approach. Although the Compton camera was small enough to hand-carry, its intrinsic efficiency was several orders higher than those generated in previous researches using spatially separated arrays, because our camera measured the interactions inside the CZT detector array, wherein the detector elements were positioned very close to each other. Lastly, the performance of our camera was compared with that based on a pixelated detector.« less

Mini Compton Camera Based on an Array of Virtual Frisch-Grid CdZnTe Detectors

DOE PAGES

Lee, Wonho; Bolotnikov, Aleksey; Lee, Taewoong; ...

2016-02-15

In this study, we constructed a mini Compton camera based on an array of CdZnTe detectors and assessed its spectral and imaging properties. The entire array consisted of 6×6 Frisch-grid CdZnTe detectors, each with a size of 6×6 ×15 mm 3. Since it is easier and more practical to grow small CdZnTe crystals rather than large monolithic ones, constructing a mosaic array of parallelepiped crystals can be an effective way to build a more efficient, large-volume detector. With the fully operational CdZnTe array, we measured the energy spectra for 133Ba -, 137Cs -, 60Co-radiation sources; we also located these sourcesmore » using a Compton imaging approach. Although the Compton camera was small enough to hand-carry, its intrinsic efficiency was several orders higher than those generated in previous researches using spatially separated arrays, because our camera measured the interactions inside the CZT detector array, wherein the detector elements were positioned very close to each other. Lastly, the performance of our camera was compared with that based on a pixelated detector.« less

Synergistically enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of ZnCdS by co-loading graphene quantum dots and PdS dual cocatalysts under visible light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Fang; Su, Yanhong; Min, Shixiong; Li, Yanan; Lei, Yonggang; Hou, Jianhua

2018-04-01

Here, we report that the co-loading of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and PdS dual cocatalysts on ZnCdS surface achieves a high efficiency photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light (≥420 nm). The GQDs/ZnCdS/PdS photocatalyst was prepared by a facile two steps: hydrothermal coupling of GQDs on ZnCdS surface followed by an in-situ chemical deposition of PdS. The resulted GQDs/ZnCdS/PdS exhibits a H2 evolution rate of 517 μmol h-1, which is 15, 7, and 1.7 times higher than that of pure ZnCdS, GQDs/ZnCdS, and ZnCdS/PdS, respectively, demonstrating the synergistic effects of GQDs and PdS dual cocatalysts. A high apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) up to 22.4% can be achieved over GQDs/ZnCdS/PdS at 420 nm. GQDs/ZnCdS/PdS also has a relatively good stability. Such a considerable enhancement of photocatalytic activity was attributable to the co-loading of the GQDs and PdS as respective reduction and oxidation cocatalysts, leading to an efficient charge separation and surface reactions.

Mobility of Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, Zn) in the Pampeano and Puelche Aquifers, Argentina: Partition and Retardation Coefficients.

PubMed

Jakomin, L M; Marbán, L; Grondona, S; Glok Galli, M; Martínez, D E

2015-09-01

The prediction about metals behaviour in soil requires knowledge on their solid-liquid partitioning. Usually it is expressed with an empirical distribution coefficient or Kd, which gives the ratio of the metal concentration in the solid phase to that in the solution. Kd values have been determined for Zn, Pb and Cd from samples representing the two most exploited aquifers in Argentina, Pampeano and Puelche, at three different locations in the province of Buenos Aires. The Pampeano aquifer presented higher Kd values than the Puelche aquifer. Comparing Kd values, different relationships could be observed: (a) Pampeano aquifer: Pb > Zn > Cd, and (b) Puelche aquifer: Pb > Cd > Zn. Kd for Cd seems to be linked to cationic exchange capacity, but solid phases precipitation can be more determining for Pb and Zn.

Improvement of the physical properties of ZnO/CdTe core-shell nanowire arrays by CdCl2 heat treatment for solar cells

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

CdTe is an important compound semiconductor for solar cells, and its use in nanowire-based heterostructures may become a critical requirement, owing to the potential scarcity of tellurium. The effects of the CdCl2 heat treatment are investigated on the physical properties of vertically aligned ZnO/CdTe core-shell nanowire arrays grown by combining chemical bath deposition with close space sublimation. It is found that recrystallization phenomena are induced by the CdCl2 heat treatment in the CdTe shell composed of nanograins: its crystallinity is improved while grain growth and texture randomization occur. The presence of a tellurium crystalline phase that may decorate grain boundaries is also revealed. The CdCl2 heat treatment further favors the chlorine doping of the CdTe shell with the formation of chlorine A-centers and can result in the passivation of grain boundaries. The absorption properties of ZnO/CdTe core-shell nanowire arrays are highly efficient, and more than 80% of the incident light can be absorbed in the spectral range of the solar irradiance. The resulting photovoltaic properties of solar cells made from ZnO/CdTe core-shell nanowire arrays covered with CuSCN/Au back-side contact are also improved after the CdCl2 heat treatment. However, recombination and trap phenomena are expected to operate, and the collection of the holes that are mainly photo-generated in the CdTe shell from the CuSCN/Au back-side contact is presumably identified as the main critical point in these solar cells. PMID:24910576

Noble-metal-free NiO@Ni-ZnO/reduced graphene oxide/CdS heterostructure for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Fayun; Zhang, Laijun; Wang, Xuewen; Zhang, Rongbin

2017-11-01

Noble-metal-free semiconductor materials are widely used for photocatalytic hydrogen generation because of their low cost. ZnO-based heterostructures with synergistic effects exhibit an effective photocatalytic activity. In this work, NiO@Ni-ZnO/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/CdS heterostructures are synthesized by a multi-step method. rGO nanosheets and CdS nanoparticles were introduced into the heterostructures via a redox reaction and light-assisted growth, respectively. A novel Ni-induced electrochemical growth method was developed to prepare ZnO rods from Zn powder. NiO@Ni-ZnO/rGO/CdS heterostructures with a wide visible-light absorption range exhibited highly photocatalytic hydrogen generation rates under UV-vis and visible light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the Ni nanoparticles that act as cocatalysts for capturing photoexcited electrons and the improved synergistic effect between ZnO and CdS due to the rGO nanosheets acting as photoexcited carrier transport channels.

Gas-sensing performances of Cd-doped ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by a surfactant-mediated method for n-butanol gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Rongjun; Li, Kejin; Wang, Zhezhe; Xing, Xinxin; Wang, Yude

2018-01-01

Zinc oxide nanoparticles with the different Cd doping contents were prepared by with a surfactant-mediated method in this paper. The effects of Cd doping on the gas sensing properties of the ZnO nanoparticles were studied. The morphology and microstructure of as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD); scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), respectively. The results reveal that all the products are the high crystalline hexagonal wurtzite ZnO crystal structure. The gas-sensing characteristics of the Cd doped ZnO nanoparticles for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were investigated. At its optimal operation temperature of 300 °C, the sensing properties of the Cd doped ZnO nanoparticles for n-butanol gas exhibit a high-performance gas sensing performances including high gas response, good selectivity, response/recovery time, and repeatability as well as stability. Especially, its response reaches 130 for 100 ppm n-butanol of ZnO nanoparticles with 2.5% Cd doping. Those values demonstrate the potential of using as-prepared Cd doped ZnO nanoparticles for n-butanol gas detection, making them to be promising candidates for practical detectors to n-butanol gas. Apart from these, the mechanism related to the advanced properties was also investigated and presented.

Zn doped CdO thin films with enhanced linear and third order nonlinear optical properties for optoelectronic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bairy, Raghavendra; Jayarama, A.; Shivakumar, G. K.; Patil, P. S.; Bhat, K. Udaya

2018-04-01

Thin films of undoped and zinc doped CdO have been deposited on glass substrate using spray pyrolysis technique with various dopant concentrations of Zn such as 1, 5 and 10%. Influence of Zn doping on CdO thin films for the structural, morphological, optical and nonlinear optical properties are reported. XRD analysis reveals that as prepared pure and Zn doped CdO films show polycrystalline nature with face centered cubic structure. Also, Zn doping does not significantly modify the crystallinity and not much increase in the crystallite size of the film. SEM images shows grains which are uniform and grain size with increase in dopant concentration. The transmittance of the prepared CdO films recorded in the UV visible spectra and it shows 50 to 60% in the visible region. The estimated optical band gap increases from 2.60 to 2.70 eV for various dopant concentrations. The nonlinear optical absorption of Zn-doped CdO films have been measured used the Z-scan technique at a wavelength 532 nm. The nonlinear optical absorption coefficient (β), nonlinear refractive index (n2) and the third order nonlinear optical susceptibility (χ(3)) of the pure and Zn doped films were determined.

Characteristics of depth-sensing coplanar grid CdZnTe detectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Zhong; Sturm, Ben W.

2005-12-01

The latest depth-sensing coplanar grid CdZnTe detectors have been tested. Two of these have dimensions 1.5×1.5×1.0 cm 3 and one is a cylindrical detector with 1.5 cm diameter and 1.0 cm length, all of them using the third-generation coplanar anode design. Energy resolutions of 2.0% and 2.4% FWHM at 662 keV γ-ray energies were obtained. Detector performance has been observed experimentally as a function of depth of the γ-ray interaction, and as a function of radial position near the anode surface. The measured results show the improvement of the third-generation anode design. Material uniformity of CdZnTe crystals manufactured by eV Products have been directly observed and compared on two 1.5×1.5×1.0 cm 3 detectors.

Photocatalytic activity of CdS and Ag2S quantum dots deposited on poly(amidoamine) functionalized carbon nanotubes

PubMed Central

Neelgund, Gururaj M.; Oki, Aderemi

2011-01-01

Two novel ternary nanocatalysts, f-MWCNTs-CdS and f-MWCNTs-Ag2S were successfully constructed by covalent grafting of fourth generation (G4) hyperbranched, crosslinked poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) to carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH) and subsequent deposition of CdS or Ag2S quantum dots (QDs). The structural transformation, surface potential, and morphology of functionalized MWCNTs (f-MWCNTs) and nanocatalysts were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy reveals the effective anchoring of QDs on f-MWCNTs. The catalytic activity of nanocatalysts was evaluated by photodegradation of methyl orange under illumination of UV light. The coupling of MWCNTs, PAMAM and CdS or Ag2S QDs significantly enhanced the catalytic efficiency of nanocatalysts. The rate constants for degradation of methyl orange in presence of nanocatalysts were calculated using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. Overall, the excellence in photodegradation was accomplished by hybridizing f-MWCNTs with CdS or Ag2S PMID:22267895

Removal of dibutyl phthalate from aqueous environments using a nanophotocatalytic Fe, Ag-ZnO/VIS-LED system: modeling and optimization.

PubMed

Akbari-Adergani, B; Saghi, M H; Eslami, A; Mohseni-Bandpei, A; Rabbani, M

2018-06-01

An (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanostructure was synthesized by a simple chemical co-precipitation method and used for the degradation of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in aqueous solution under visible light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation. (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanorods were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, elemental mapping, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis. A Central Composite Design was used to optimize the reaction parameters for the removal of DBP by the (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanorods. The four main reaction parameters optimized in this study were the following: pH, time of radiation, concentration of the nanorods and initial DBP concentration. The interaction between the four parameters was studied and modeled using the Design Expert 10 software. A maximum reduction of 95% of DBP was achieved at a pH of 3, a photocatalyst concentration of 150 mg L -1 and a DBP initial DBP concentration of 15 mg L -1 . The results showed that the (Fe, Ag) co-doped ZnO nanorods under low power LED irradiation can be used as an effective photocatalyst for the removal of DBP from aqueous solutions.

Stability of Cd 1–xZn xO yS 1–y Quaternary Alloys Assessed with First-Principles Calculations

DOE PAGES

Varley, Joel B.; He, Xiaoqing; Rockett, Angus; ...

2017-02-08

One route to decreasing the absorption in CdS buffer layers in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 and Cu 2ZnSn(S,Se) 4 thin-film photovoltaics is by alloying. Here we use first-principles calculations based on hybrid functionals to assess the energetics and stability of quaternary Cd, Zn, O, and S (Cd 1–xZn xO yS 1–y) alloys within a regular solution model. Our results identify that full miscibility of most Cd 1–xZn xO yS 1–y compositions and even binaries like Zn(O,S) is outside typical photovoltaic processing conditions. Finally, the results suggest that the tendency for phase separation of the oxysulfides may drive the nucleation of other phasesmore » such as sulfates that have been increasingly observed in oxygenated CdS and ZnS.« less

Stability of Cd 1–xZn xO yS 1–y Quaternary Alloys Assessed with First-Principles Calculations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Varley, Joel B.; He, Xiaoqing; Rockett, Angus

One route to decreasing the absorption in CdS buffer layers in Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 and Cu 2ZnSn(S,Se) 4 thin-film photovoltaics is by alloying. Here we use first-principles calculations based on hybrid functionals to assess the energetics and stability of quaternary Cd, Zn, O, and S (Cd 1–xZn xO yS 1–y) alloys within a regular solution model. Our results identify that full miscibility of most Cd 1–xZn xO yS 1–y compositions and even binaries like Zn(O,S) is outside typical photovoltaic processing conditions. Finally, the results suggest that the tendency for phase separation of the oxysulfides may drive the nucleation of other phasesmore » such as sulfates that have been increasingly observed in oxygenated CdS and ZnS.« less

Enhancing UV-emissions through optical and electronic dual-function tuning of Ag nanoparticles hybridized with n-ZnO nanorods/p-GaN heterojunction light-emitting diodes.

PubMed

Yao, Yung-Chi; Yang, Zu-Po; Hwang, Jung-Min; Chuang, Yi-Lun; Lin, Chia-Ching; Haung, Jing-Yu; Chou, Chun-Yang; Sheu, Jinn-Kong; Tsai, Meng-Tsan; Lee, Ya-Ju

2016-02-28

ZnO nanorods (NRs) and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are known to enhance the luminescence of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) through the high directionality of waveguide mode transmission and efficient energy transfer of localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonances, respectively. In this work, we have demonstrated Ag NP-incorporated n-ZnO NRs/p-GaN heterojunctions by facilely hydrothermally growing ZnO NRs on Ag NP-covered GaN, in which the Ag NPs were introduced and randomly distributed on the p-GaN surface to excite the LSP resonances. Compared with the reference LED, the light-output power of the near-band-edge (NBE) emission (ZnO, λ = 380 nm) of our hybridized structure is increased almost 1.5-2 times and can be further modified in a controlled manner by varying the surface morphology of the surrounding medium of the Ag NPs. The improved light-output power is mainly attributed to the LSP resonance between the NBE emission of ZnO NRs and LSPs in Ag NPs. We also observed different behaviors in the electroluminescence (EL) spectra as the injection current increases for the treatment and reference LEDs. This observation might be attributed to the modification of the energy band diagram for introducing Ag NPs at the interface between n-ZnO NRs and p-GaN. Our results pave the way for developing advanced nanostructured LED devices with high luminescence efficiency in the UV emission regime.

Subcellular compartmentalization of Cd and Zn in two bivalves. I. Significance of metal-sensitive fractions (MSF) and biologically detoxified metal (BDM)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wallace, W.G.; Lee, B.-G.; Luoma, S.N.

2003-01-01

Many aspects of metal accumulation in aquatic invertebrates (i.e. toxicity, tolerance and trophic transfer) can be understood by examining the subcellular partitioning of accumulated metal. In this paper, we use a compartmentalization approach to interpret the significance of metal, species and size dependence in the subcellular partitioning of Cd and Zn in the bivalves Macoma balthica and Potamocorbula amurensis. Of special interest is the compartmentalization of metal as metal-sensitive fractions (MSF) (i.e. organelles and heat-sensitive proteins, termed 'enzymes' hereafter) and biologically detoxified metal (BDM) (i.e. metallothioneins [MT] and metal-rich granules [MRG]). Clams from San Francisco Bay, CA, were exposed for 14 d to seawater (20??? salinity) containing 3.5 ??g l-1 Cd and 20.5 ??g l-1 Zn, including 109Cd and 65Zn as radiotracers. Uptake was followed by 21 d of depuration. The subcellular partitioning of metal within clams was examined following exposure and loss. P. amurensis accumulated ???22x more Cd and ???2x more Zn than M. balthica. MT played an important role in the storage of Cd in P. amurensis, while organelles were the major site of Zn accumulation. In M. balthica, Cd and Zn partitioned similarly, although the pathway of detoxification was metal-specific (MRG for Cd; MRG and MT for Zn). Upon loss, M. balthica depurated ???40% of Cd with Zn being retained; P. amurensis retained Cd and depurated Zn (???40%). During efflux, Cd and Zn concentrations in the MSF compartment of both clams declined with metal either being lost from the animal or being transferred to the BDM compartment. Subcellular compartmentalization was also size-dependent, with the importance of BDM increasing with clam size; MSF decreased accordingly. We hypothesized that progressive retention of metal as BDM (i.e. MRG) with age may lead to size dependency of metal concentrations often observed in some populations of M. balthica.

Relationship between the Porco, Bolivia, Ag-Zn-Pb-Sn deposit and the Porco Caldera

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cunningham, C.G.

1994-01-01

The Porco Ag-Zn-Pb-Sn deposit, a major Ag producer in the 16th century and currently the major Zn producer in Bolivia, consists of a swarm of fissure-filling veins in the newly recognized Porco caldera. The caldera measures 5 km by 3 km and formed in response to the eruption of the 12 Ma crystal-rich dacitic Porco Tuff. The mineralization is associated with, and is probably genetically related to, the 8.6 Ma Huayna Porco stock. The Porco deposit consists of steeply dipping irregular and curvilinear veins that cut the intracaldera Porco Tuff about 1 km east of the Huayna Porco stock. Most of the veins are aligned along the structural margin (ring fracture) of the caldera. The ore deposit is zoned around the Huayna Porco stock. The primary Ag minerals are most abundant in the upper parts of the viens. Fluid inclusions in sphalerite stalactites have homogenization temperatures of about 225??C and salinities of about 8 wt% NaCl equiv. The stalactites and the presence of sparse vapor-rich inclusions suggest deposition of sphalerite under boiling conditions. -from Authors

Influence of Illumination on the Electrical Properties of p-(ZnMgTe/ZnTe:N)/CdTe/n-(CdTe:I)/GaAs Heterojunction Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jum'h, I.; Abd El-Sadek, M. S.; Al-Taani, H.; Yahia, I. S.; Karczewski, G.

2017-02-01

Heterostructure p-(ZnMgTe/ZnTe:N)/CdTe/n-(CdTe:I)/GaAs was evaporated using molecular beam epitaxy and investigated for photovoltaic energy conversion application. The electrical properties of the studied heterostructure were measured and characterized in order to understand the relevant electrical transport mechanisms. Electrical properties derived from the current-voltage ( I- V) characteristics of solar cells provide essential information necessary for the analysis of performance losses and device efficiency. I- V characteristics are investigated in dark conditions and under different light intensities. All the electrical and power parameters of the heterostructure were measured, calculated and explained.

Differences in Cd and Zn bioaccumulation for the flood-tolerant Salix cinerea rooting in seasonally flooded contaminated sediments.

PubMed

Vandecasteele, Bart; Laing, Gijs Du; Quataert, Paul; Tack, Filip M G

2005-04-01

Several authors suggest that a hydrological regime aiming at wetland creation is a potential management option that favours reducing bioavailability for metal-contaminated sites. The hydrological conditions on a site constitute one of the many factors that may affect the availability of potentially toxic trace metals for uptake by plants. Bioavailability of Cd, Mn and Zn on a contaminated dredged sediment landfill (DSL) with variable duration of submersion was evaluated by measuring metal concentrations in the wetland plant species Salix cinerea in field conditions. Longer submersion periods in the field caused lower Cd and Zn concentrations in the leaves in the first weeks of the growing season. Foliar Cd and Zn concentrations at the end of the growing season were highest on the initially flooded plot that emerged early in the growing season. Foliar Zn concentrations were also high at a sandy-textured oxic plot with low soil metal concentrations. Zn uptake in the leaves was markedly slower than Cd uptake for trees growing on soils with prolonged waterlogging during the growing season, pointing at a different availability. Zn availability was lowest when soil was submerged, but metal transfer from stems and twigs to leaves may mask the lower availability of Cd in submerged soils. Especially for Cd, a transfer effect from one growing season to the next season was observed: oxic conditions at the end of the previous growing season seem to determine at least partly the foliar concentrations for S. cinerea through this metal transfer mechanism. Duration of the submersion period is a key factor for bioavailability inasmuch as initially submerged soils emerging only in the second half of the growing season resulted in elevated Cd and Zn foliar concentrations at that time.

Cu-doped Cd1- x Zn x S alloy: synthesis and structural investigations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yadav, Indu; Ahlawat, Dharamvir Singh; Ahlawat, Rachna

2016-03-01

Copper doped Cd1- x Zn x S ( x ≤ 1) quantum dots have been synthesized using chemical co-precipitation method. Structural investigation of the synthesized nanomaterials has been carried out by powder XRD method. The XRD results have confirmed that as-prepared Cu-doped Cd1- x Zn x S quantum dots have hexagonal structure. The average nanocrystallite size was estimated in the range 2-12 nm using Debye-Scherrer formula. The lattice constants, lattice plane, d-spacing, unit cell volume, Lorentz factor and dislocation density were also calculated from XRD data. The change in particle size was observed with the change in Zn concentration. Furthermore, FTIR spectra of the prepared samples were observed for identification of COO- and O-H functional groups. The TEM study has also reported the same size range of nanoparticles. The increase in agglomeration has been observed with the increase in Zn concentration in the prepared samples.

Synthesis and characterization of Ag doped ZnS quantum dots for enhanced photocatalysis of Strychnine asa poison: Charge transfer behavior study by electrochemical impedance and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy.

PubMed

Gupta, Vinod Kumar; Fakhri, Ali; Azad, Mona; Agarwal, Shilpi

2018-01-15

In this study, the photocatalytic degradation of Strychnine was investigated by ZnS quantum dots and doped with silver in UV systems. ZnS and Ag-ZnS quantum dots were synthesized by chemical method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis spectra and photoluminescence. The charge transfer process on the semicon-ductor/electrolyte interface was investigated via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and time-resolved photoluminescence. The average diameters of ZnS and Ag doped ZnS QDs were 3.0-5.0nm and 3.0-5.3nm, respectively. The band gap of ZnS and Ag-ZnS QDs was computed as 3.47 and 3.1eV, respectively. The surface area values of ZnS and Ag-ZnS QDs have been found as 78.25 and 89.54m 2 /g, respectively. The influences of key operating parameters such as initial pH, catalyst dosage, UV radiation intensity, reaction time as well as the effect of initial Strychnine concentration on mineralization extents were studied. The results of the study showed that the maximum removal efficiency of Strychnine had been achieved by un-doped and Ag-doped ZnS QDs at radiation intensity of 100W/m 2 , at time of 60min, pH of 3 and initial Strychnine concentration of 20mg/ml. Also the observations clearly showed that the photocatalysis process with Ag doped ZnS QDs are more effective than un-doped ZnS QDs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A ceramic microreactor for the synthesis of water soluble CdS and CdS/ZnS nanocrystals with on-line optical characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pedro, Sara Gómez-De; Puyol, Mar; Izquierdo, David; Salinas, Iñigo; de La Fuente, J. M.; Alonso-Chamarro, Julián

2012-02-01

In this paper, a computer controlled microreactor to synthesize water soluble CdS and CdS/ZnS nanocrystals with in situ monitoring of the reaction progress is developed. It is based on ceramic tapes and the Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics technology (LTCC). As well the microsystem set-up, the microreactor fluidic design has also been thoroughly optimized. The final device is based on a hydrodynamic focusing of the reagents followed by a three-dimensional micromixer. This generates monodispersed and stable CdS and core-shell CdS/ZnS nanocrystals of 4.5 and 4.2 nm, respectively, with reproducible optical properties in terms of fluorescence emission wavelengths, bandwidth, and quantum yields, which is a key requirement for their future analytical applications. The synthetic process is also controlled in real time with the integration of an optical detection system for absorbance and fluorescence measurements based on commercial miniaturized optical components. This makes possible the efficient managing of the hydrodynamic variables to obtain the desired colloidal suspension. As a result, a simple, economic, robust and portable microsystem for the well controlled synthesis of CdS and CdS/ZnS nanocrystals is presented. Moreover, the reaction takes place in aqueous medium, thus allowing the direct modular integration of this microreactor in specific analytical microsystems, which require the use of such quantum dots as labels.

Color-Tunable ZnO/GaN Heterojunction LEDs Achieved by Coupling with Ag Nanowire Surface Plasmons.

PubMed

Yang, Liu; Wang, Yue; Xu, Haiyang; Liu, Weizhen; Zhang, Cen; Wang, Chunliang; Wang, Zhongqiang; Ma, Jiangang; Liu, Yichun

2018-05-09

Color-tunable light-emitting devices (LEDs) have a great impact on our daily life. Herein, LEDs with tunable electroluminescence (EL) color were achieved via introducing Ag nanowires surface plasmons into p-GaN/n-ZnO film heterostructures. By optimizing the surface coverage density of coated Ag nanowires, the EL color was changed continuously from yellow-green to blue-violet. Transient-state and temperature-variable fluorescence emission characterizations uncovered that the spontaneous emission rate and the internal quantum efficiency of the near-UV emission were increased as a consequence of the resonance coupling interaction between Ag nanowires surface plasmons and ZnO excitons. This effect induces the selective enhancement of the blue-violet EL component but suppresses the defect-related yellow-green emission, leading to the observed tunable EL color. The proposed strategy of introducing surface plasmons can be further applied to many other kinds of LEDs for their selective enhancement of EL intensity and effective adjustment of the emission color.

Accumulation of Cd, Cu and Zn in shoots of maize (Zea mays L.) exposed to 0.8 or 20 nM Cd during vegetative growth and the relation with xylem sap composition.

PubMed

Nguyen, C; Soulier, A J; Masson, P; Bussière, S; Cornu, J Y

2016-02-01

This work focuses on the exposure of maize plants to nanomolar concentrations of Cd, which is relevant for agricultural soils cropped with food and feed plants. Maize plants were cultivated in nutrient solution at 0.8 or 20 nM Cd during the vegetative growth stages. No significant hormesis or toxic effects of Cd were observed on maize growth, but a decrease in the allocation of Cd to shoots between the 0.8 and 20 nM Cd exposures revealed that the plants already responded to these low concentrations of Cd according to a shoot Cd excluder strategy. The Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations in shoots decreased with time as the result of an early decrease in the root/shoot ratio and of a decrease in the coefficient of allocation to aboveground for Zn and Cd at 20 nM. As a consequence, shoots of young plants were richer in micronutrients Cu and Zn but also in toxic Cd. The rate of delivery of Cd, Cu and Zn from xylem sap was successfully used to predict the time course of concentrations of Cd, Cu and Zn in the shoot. However, it overestimated the actual concentrations of Cd in the shoot, presumably because the reallocation of this trace element from shoots back to roots was not taken into account.

Luminescence of polyethylene glycol coated CdSeTe/ZnS and InP/ZnS nanoparticles in the presence of copper cations.

PubMed

Beaune, Grégory; Tamang, Sudarsan; Bernardin, Aude; Bayle-Guillemaud, Pascale; Fenel, Daphna; Schoehn, Guy; Vinet, Françoise; Reiss, Peter; Texier, Isabelle

2011-08-22

The use of click chemistry for quantum dot (QD) functionalization could be very promising for the development of bioconjugates dedicated to in vivo applications. Alkyne-azide ligation usually requires copper(I) catalysis. The luminescence response of CdSeTe/ZnS nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is studied in the presence of copper cations, and compared to that of InP/ZnS QDs coated with mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA). The quenching mechanisms appear different. Luminescence quenching occurs without any wavelength shift in the absorption and emission spectra for the CdSeTe/ZnS/PEG nanocrystals. In this case, the presence of copper in the ZnS shell is evidenced by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM). By contrast, in the case of InP/ZnS/MUA nanocrystals, a redshift of the excitation and emission spectra, accompanied by an increase in absorbance and a decrease in photoluminescence, is observed. For CdSeTe/ZnS/PEG nanocrystals, PL quenching is enhanced for QDs with 1) smaller inorganic-core diameter, 2) thinner PEG shell, and 3) hydroxyl terminal groups. Whereas copper-induced PL quenching can be interesting for the design of sensitive cation sensors, copper-free click reactions should be used for the efficient functionalization of nanocrystals dedicated to bioapplications, in order to achieve highly luminescent QD bioconjugates. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A comparative analysis of green synthesis approach starch capped metal oxides (ZnO & CdO) nanoparticles and its bacterial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vidhya, K.; Devarajan, V. P.; Viswanathan, C.; Nataraj, D.; Bhoopathi, G.

2013-06-01

In this study, we have investigated the bacterial activity of starch capped ZnO & CdO NPs. The NPs were prepared through green technique under room temperature and then obtained samples were characterized by using XRD and PL techniques. XRD pattern confirms the crystal nature it shows hexagonal structure for ZnO NPs and monoclinic structure for CdO NPs and their average particle size is ±20 nm. Further, the optical properties of NPs were investigated using PL technique in which the starch capped ZnO NPs shows maximum emission at 440 nm whereas starch capped CdO NPs shows maximum emission at 545 nm. Finally, toxic test was performed with E.coli bacteria and their results were investigated. Hence, starch capped ZnO NPs induced less killing effect when compared with starch capped CdO NPs. Therefore, we conclude that the starch capped ZnO NPs may be less toxic to microorganisms when compared with starch capped CdO NPs. In addition, starch capped ZnO NPs is also suitable for anti-microbial activity.

Constructing Cd0.5Zn0.5S@ZIF-8 nanocomposites through self-assembly strategy to enhance Cr(VI) photocatalytic reduction.

PubMed

Qiu, Jianhao; Zhang, Xiong-Fei; Zhang, Xingguang; Feng, Yi; Li, Yuxin; Yang, Lvye; Lu, Haiqiang; Yao, Jianfeng

2018-05-05

A novel and highly efficient photocatalyst of Cd 0.5 Zn 0.5 S@ZIF-8 nanocomposite has been developed by a facile self-assembly strategy. This is the first report on the application of Cd x Zn 1-x S and metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite as photocatalysts for the reduction of Cr(VI). The resulting Cd 0.5 Zn 0.5 S@ZIF-8 exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than that of pristine Cd 0.5 Zn 0.5 S and ZIF-8. Particularly, the CZS@Z60 composite with 60 wt% of ZIF-8 exhibited a photocatalytic activity that is about 1.6 times as high as that of Cd 0.5 Zn 0.5 S. The dominant reason for the improved photocatalytic reduction potential is proved to be the newly-formed interfacial SZn bonds that firmly connect Cd 0.5 Zn 0.5 S and ZIF-8 and substantially improve the separation efficiency of photo-excited electrons and holes. The newly-formed chemical bonds are confirmed by XPS analyses, and the prolonged lifetime of photo-excited electrons is evidenced by the electrochemical measurement of photocurrent, which shows that the photocurrent on Cd 0.5 Zn 0.5 S@ZIF-8 is much higher than that of Cd 0.5 Zn 0.5 S and ZIF-8. This study clearly demonstrates that the MOF-based composite nanomaterials hold great promises for applications in the field of environmental remediation and for design of novel photocatalytic materials. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Possible Mesozoic age of Ellenville Zn-Pb-Cu(Ag) deposit, Shawangunk Mountains, New York

USGS Publications Warehouse

Friedman, J.D.; Conrad, J.E.; McKee, E.H.; Mutschler, F.E.; Zartman, R.E.

1994-01-01

Ore textures, epithermal open-space filling of Permian structures of the Alleghanian orogeny, and largely postorogenic mineralization of the Ellenville, New York, composite Zn-Pb-Cu(Ag) vein system, provide permissive evidence for post-Permian mineralization. Isochron ages determined by 40Ar/39Ar laser-fusion techniques for K-bearing liquid inclusions in main-stage quartz from the Ellenville deposit additionally suggest a Mesozoic time of mineralization, associated with extensional formation of the Newark basin. The best 40Ar/39Ar total-fusion age range is 165 ?? 30 to 193 ?? 35 Ma. The Mesozoic 40Ar/39Ar age agrees with that of many other dated northern Appalachian Zn-Pb-Cu(Ag) deposits with near-matching lead isotope ratios, and adds new evidence of Jurassic tectonism and mineralization as an overprint to Late Paleozoic tectonism at least as far north as Ellenville (lat. 41??43???N). ?? 1994 Springer-Verlag.

LED Die-Bonded on the Ag/Cu Substrate by a Sn-BiZn-Sn Bonding System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Y. K.; Hsu, Y. C.; Lin, E. J.; Hu, Y. J.; Liu, C. Y.

2016-12-01

In this study, light emitting diode (LED) chips were die-bonded on a Ag/Cu substrate by a Sn-BixZn-Sn bonding system. A high die-bonding strength is successfully achieved by using a Sn-BixZn-Sn ternary system. At the bonding interface, there is observed a Bi-segregation phenomenon. This Bi-segregation phenomenon solves the problems of the brittle layer-type Bi at the joint interface. Our shear test results show that the bonding interface with Bi-segregation enhances the shear strength of the LED die-bonding joints. The Bi-0.3Zn and Bi-0.5Zn die-bonding cases have the best shear strength among all die-bonding systems. In addition, we investigate the atomic depth profile of the deposited Bi-xZn layer by evaporating Bi-xZn E-gun alloy sources. The initial Zn content of the deposited Bi-Zn alloy layers are much higher than the average Zn content in the deposited Bi-Zn layers.

Electron-beam pumped laser structures based on MBE grown {ZnCdSe}/{ZnSe} superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozlovsky, V. I.; Shcherbakov, E. A.; Dianov, E. M.; Krysa, A. B.; Nasibov, A. S.; Trubenko, P. A.

1996-02-01

Cathodoluminescence (CL), photoreflection (PR), phototransmission (PT) of single and multiquantum wells (MQWs) and strain layer {ZnCdSe}/{ZnSe} superlattices (SLs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were studied. An increase of the Stokes shift with the number of quantum wells (QWs) and the appearance of new lines in CL and PT spectra were observed. Room temperature (RT) vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) operation was achieved by using the SL structures. Output power up to 2.2 W in single longitudinal mode with λ = 493 nm was obtained. Cut facet laser wavelength of the same SL structure was 502 nm.

Wet Pretreatment-Induced Modification of Cu(In,Ga)Se2/Cd-Free ZnTiO Buffer Interface.

PubMed

Hwang, Suhwan; Larina, Liudmila; Lee, Hojin; Kim, Suncheul; Choi, Kyoung Soon; Jeon, Cheolho; Ahn, Byung Tae; Shin, Byungha

2018-06-20

We report a novel Cd-free ZnTiO buffer layer deposited by atomic layer deposition for Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) solar cells. Wet pretreatments of the CIGS absorbers with NH 4 OH, H 2 O, and/or aqueous solution of Cd 2+ ions were explored to improve the quality of the CIGS/ZnTiO interface, and their effects on the chemical state of the absorber and the final performance of Cd-free CIGS devices were investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that the aqueous solution etched away sodium compounds accumulated on the CIGS surface, which was found to be detrimental for solar cell operation. Wet treatment with NH 4 OH solution led to a reduced photocurrent, which was attributed to the thinning (or removal) of an ordered vacancy compound (OVC) layer on the CIGS surface as evidenced by an increased Cu XPS peak intensity after the NH 4 OH treatment. However, the addition of Cd 2+ ions to the NH 4 OH aqueous solution suppressed the etching of the OVC by NH 4 OH, explaining why such a negative effect of NH 4 OH is not present in the conventional chemical bath deposition of CdS. The band alignment at the CIGS/ZnTiO interface was quantified using XPS depth profile measurements. A small cliff-like conduction band offset of -0.11 eV was identified at the interface, which indicates room for further improvement of efficiency of the CIGS/ZnTiO solar cells once the band alignment is altered to a slight spike by inserting a passivation layer with a higher conduction band edge than ZnTiO. Combination of the small cliff conduction band offset at the interface, removal of the Na compound via water, and surface doping by Cd ions allowed the application of ZnTiO buffer to CIGS treated with Cd solutions, exhibiting an efficiency of 80% compared to that of a reference CIGS solar cell treated with the CdS.

The influence of annealing temperature on the interface and photovoltaic properties of CdS/CdSe quantum dots sensitized ZnO nanorods solar cells.

PubMed

Qiu, Xiaofeng; Chen, Ling; Gong, Haibo; Zhu, Min; Han, Jun; Zi, Min; Yang, Xiaopeng; Ji, Changjian; Cao, Bingqiang

2014-09-15

Arrays of ZnO/CdS/CdSe core/shell nanocables with different annealing temperatures have been investigated for CdS/CdSe quantum dots sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). CdS/CdSe quantum dots were synthesized on the surface of ZnO nanorods that serve as the scaffold via a simple ion-exchange approach. The uniform microstructure was verified by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. UV-Visible absorption spectrum and Raman spectroscopy analysis indicated noticeable influence of annealing temperature on the interface structural and optical properties of the CdS/CdSe layers. Particularly, the relationship between annealing temperatures and photovoltaic performance of the corresponding QDSSCs was investigated employing photovoltaic conversion, quantum efficiency and electrochemical impedance spectra. It is demonstrated that higher cell efficiency can be obtained by optimizing the annealing temperature through extending the photoresponse range and improving QD layer crystal quality. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

CdS/ZnS core-shell nanocrystal photosensitizers for visible to UV upconversion.

PubMed

Gray, Victor; Xia, Pan; Huang, Zhiyuan; Moses, Emily; Fast, Alexander; Fishman, Dmitry A; Vullev, Valentine I; Abrahamsson, Maria; Moth-Poulsen, Kasper; Lee Tang, Ming

2017-08-01

Herein we report the first example of nanocrystal (NC) sensitized triplet-triplet annihilation based photon upconversion from the visible to ultraviolet (vis-to-UV). Many photocatalyzed reactions, such as water splitting, require UV photons in order to function efficiently. Upconversion is one possible means of extending the usable range of photons into the visible. Vis-to-UV upconversion is achieved with CdS/ZnS core-shell NCs as the sensitizer and 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) as annihilator and emitter. The ZnS shell was crucial in order to achieve any appreciable upconversion. From time resolved photoluminescence and transient absorption measurements we conclude that the ZnS shell affects the NC and triplet energy transfer (TET) from NC to PPO in two distinct ways. Upon ZnS growth the surface traps are passivated thus increasing the TET. The shell, however, also acts as a tunneling barrier for TET, reducing the efficiency. This leads to an optimal shell thickness where the upconversion quantum yield ( Φ ' UC ) is maximized. Here the maximum Φ ' UC was determined to be 5.2 ± 0.5% for 4 monolayers of ZnS shell on CdS NCs.

Cd-free buffer layer materials on Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1-x)4: Band alignments with ZnO, ZnS, and In2S3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barkhouse, D. Aaron R.; Haight, Richard; Sakai, Noriyuki; Hiroi, Homare; Sugimoto, Hiroki; Mitzi, David B.

2012-05-01

The heterojunctions formed between Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1-x)4 (CZTSSe) and three Cd-free n-type buffers, ZnS, ZnO, and In2S3, were studied using femtosecond ultraviolet photoemission and photovoltage spectroscopy. The electronic properties including the Fermi level location at the interface, band bending in the CZTSSe substrate, and valence and conduction band offsets were determined and correlated with device properties. We also describe a method for determining the band bending in the buffer layer and demonstrate this for the In2S3/CZTSSe system. The chemical bath deposited In2S3 buffer is found to have near optimal conduction band offset (0.15 eV), enabling the demonstration of Cd-free In2S3/CZTSSe solar cells with 7.6% power conversion efficiency.

Surface Passivation of CdZnTe Detector by Hydrogen Peroxide Solution Etching

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayes, M.; Chen, H.; Chattopadhyay, K.; Burger, A.; James, R. B.

1998-01-01

The spectral resolution of room temperature nuclear radiation detectors such as CdZnTe is usually limited by the presence of conducting surface species that increase the surface leakage current. Studies have shown that the leakage current can be reduced by proper surface preparation. In this study, we try to optimize the performance of CdZnTe detector by etching the detector with hydrogen peroxide solution as function of concentration and etching time. The passivation effect that hydrogen peroxide introduces have been investigated by current-voltage (I-V) measurement on both parallel strips and metal-semiconductor-metal configurations. The improvements on the spectral response of Fe-55 and 241Am due to hydrogen peroxide treatment are presented and discussed.

[Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb contents and forms in soils and rapeseeds around Wuhu Plant].

PubMed

Wang, Xingming; Liu, Dengyi; Tu, Junfang; Li, Zheng; Wang, Youbao

2005-10-01

The study showed that around Wuhu Plant, soil Cd, Zn and Pb mainly existed in Fe-Mn oxide form, and Cu in residual form, with the percentage of 31.81%, 39.83%, 53.79%, and 46.24%, respectively. Soil exchangeable Cd and Pb had a higher proportion (23.47% and 16.32%) than soil exchangeable Cu and Zn (3.14% and 0.54%). The correlations between soil heavy metals and their forms, as well as their transformation to available form were different. Different heavy metals had different accumulation trends in rapeseed and its hull. Cu easily accumulated in hull, while Cd, Zn and Pb had a higher accumulation in seed. The accumulation rate of heavy metals in rapeseed and hull was also different, being the highest for Cd. There was a significantly negative correlation (P < 0.05) between the accumulation rate of heavy metals and their contents in soil. In rapeseed, Cd, Cu and Pb were mainly in sodium hydroxide form, with the percentage of 32.50%, 22.94% and 34.69%, respectively, while Zn was mainly in EDTA form, with a percentage of 45.97. The existed forms of heavy metals in rapeseed probably affected their toxicity, but the toxicity to human food could not be inferred from this research, and needed to be studied further. There was a weak relation between heavy metals contents and their existed forms in rapeseed.

White random lasing in mixture of ZnSe, CdS and CdSSe micropowders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alyamani, A. Y.; Leanenia, M. S.; Alanazi, L. M.; Aljohani, M. M.; Aljariwi, A. A.; Rzheutski, M. V.; Lutsenko, E. V.; Yablonskii, G. P.

2016-03-01

Room temperature random lasing with white light emission in a mixture of AIIBVI semiconductor powders was achieved for the first time. The scattering gain media was formed by the mixture of closely packed active micron sized crystallites of ZnSe, CdS, CdSSe semiconductors. The micropowders were produced by grinding bulk crystals of each compound. Optical excitation was performed by 10-nanosecond pulses of tuned Ti:Al2O3-laser at 390 nm. The lasing in the mixture of semiconductor powders was achieved simultaneously at four wavelengths in blue, green, yellow and red spectral regions after exceeding the threshold excitation power density. A drastic integral intensity increase, spectrum narrowing and appearance of mode structure accompanied the laser action. ZnSe crystallites produce the laser light at about 460 nm while CdS particles - at about 520 nm. Two types of CdSSe semiconductor micropowders with different sulfur content lase at 580 nm and 660 nm. The threshold excitation power densities for all laser lines in the emission spectrum are approximately the same of about 0.9 MW/cm2. The sum of the emission spectrum of the mixture of the micropowders forms white light with high brightness. Lasing is due to an appearance of random feedback for amplified radiation in the active medium of closely packed light scattering crystallites. The presented results may find their applications for visualization systems, lighting technology, data transmission, medicine as biosensors and in identification systems. The key feature of random lasers is low cost of its production and possibility to be deposited on any type of surface.

Recovery of zinc and cadmium from spent batteries using Cyphos IL 102 via solvent extraction route and synthesis of Zn and Cd oxide nanoparticles.

PubMed

Singh, Rashmi; Mahandra, Harshit; Gupta, Bina

2017-09-01

The overall aim of this study is to separate and recover zinc and cadmium from spent batteries. For this purpose Cyphos IL 102 diluted in toluene was employed for the extraction and recovery of Zn and Cd from Zn-C and Ni-Cd batteries leach liquor. The influence of extractant concentration for the leach liquors of Zn-C (0.01-0.05mol/L) and Ni-Cd (0.04-0.20mol/L) batteries has been investigated. Composition of the leach liquor obtained from Zn-C/Ni-Cd spent batteries is Zn - 2.18g/L, Mn - 4.59g/L, Fe - 4.0×10 -3 g/L, Ni - 0.2×10 -3 g/L/Cd - 4.28g/L, Ni - 0.896×10 -1 g/L, Fe - 0.148g/L, Co - 3.77×10 -3 g/L, respectively. Two stage counter current extraction at A/O 1:1 and 3:2 with 0.04mol/L and 0.2mol/L Cyphos IL 102 for Zn and Cd, respectively provide more than 99.0% extraction of both the metal ions with almost negligible extraction of associated metal ions. A stripping efficiency of around 99.0% for Zn and Cd was obtained at O/A 1:1 using 1.0mol/L HNO 3 in two and three counter current stages, respectively. ZnO and CdO were also synthesized using the loaded organic phase and characterized using XRD, FE-SEM and EDX techniques. XRD peaks of ZnO and CdO correspond to zincite and monteponite, respectively. The average particle size was ∼27.0nm and ∼37.0nm for ZnO and CdO, respectively. The EDX analysis of ZnO and CdO shows almost 1:1 atomic percentage. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Photoemission studies of CdTe(100) and the Ag-CdTe(100) interface: Surface structure, growth behavior, Schottky barrier, and surface photovoltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

John, P.; Miller, T.; Hsieh, T. C.; Shapiro, A. P.; Wachs, A. L.; Chiang, T.-C.

1986-11-01

The clean CdTe(100) surface prepared by sputtering and annealing was studied with high-energy electron diffraction (HEED) and photoemission. HEED showed the surface to be a one-domain, (2×1) reconstruction. Photoemission spectra showed two surface-shifted components for the Cd 4d core level, with an intensity ratio of about 1:3, accounting for nearly an entire atomic layer. No surface-induced shifts for the Te 4d core level were detected. A model is proposed for the surface structure in which the surface layer is free of Te, and Cd atoms form dimers resulting in a (2×1) reconstruction; in addition, about (1/4) of the surface area is covered by excess loosely attached Cd atoms. Ag was evaporated on the surface at room temperature and found to grow three dimensionally in the [111] direction. The Ag was found to interact only weakly with the substrate, although the Cd atoms originally loosely bound on top of the surface were found to float on the evaporated Ag islands. A small coverage-dependent surface photovoltage, induced by the synchrotron radiation used for photoemission, was observed; with this effect taken into account, band bending was monitored, the final Fermi-level position being near 0.96 eV above the valence-band maximum. This corresponds to a Schottky-barrier height of about 0.60 eV for the n-type sample used in this experiment. The mechanism for generation of the surface photovoltage will be discussed.

Transcriptional up-regulation of genes involved in photosynthesis of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii in response to zinc and cadmium.

PubMed

Tang, Lu; Yao, Aijun; Ming Yuan; Tang, Yetao; Liu, Jian; Liu, Xi; Qiu, Rongliang

2016-12-01

Zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) are two closely related chemical elements with very different biological roles in photosynthesis. Zinc plays unique biochemical functions in photosynthesis. Previous studies suggested that in some Zn/Cd hyperaccumulators, many steps in photosynthesis may be Cd tolerant or even Cd stimulated. Using RNA-seq data, we found not only that Cd and Zn both up-regulated the CA1 gene, which encodes a β class carbonic anhydrase (CA) in chloroplasts, but that a large number of other Zn up-regulated genes in the photosynthetic pathway were also significantly up-regulated by Cd in leaves of the Zn/Cd hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii. These genes also include chloroplast genes involved in transcription and translation (rps18 and rps14), electron transport and ATP synthesis (atpF and ccsA), Photosystem II (PSBI, PSBM, PSBK, PSBZ/YCF9, PSBO-1, PSBQ, LHCB1.1, LHCB1.4, LHCB2.1, LHCB4.3 and LHCB6) and Photosystem I (PSAE-1, PSAF, PSAH2, LHCA1 and LHCA4). Cadmium and Zn also up-regulated the VAR1 gene, which encodes the ATP-dependent zinc metalloprotease FTSH 5 (a member of the FtsH family), and the DAG gene, which influences chloroplast differentiation and plastid development, and the CP29 gene, which supports RNA processing in chloroplasts and has a potential role in signal-dependent co-regulation of chloroplast genes. Further morphological parameters (dry biomass, cross-sectional thickness, chloroplast size, chlorophyll content) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters confirmed that leaf photosynthesis of S. alfredii responded to Cd much as it did to Zn, which will contribute to our understanding of the positive effects of Zn and Cd on growth of this plant. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.