Exploration of structural,optical,and photoluminescent properties of (1-x)NiCo_(2)O_(4)/xPbS nanocomposites for optoelectronic applications

The(1-x)NiCo_(2)O_(4)/x PbS(0≤x≤0.2)nanocomposite samples are synthesized using the hydrothermal and thermolysis procedures.The different phases developed in the obtained nanocomposite samples are accurately determined using the x-ray diffraction technique equipped with a line-detector.The percentage of the formed phases(NiCo_(2)O_(4)(NCO),PbS,PbSO_(4)),structural and microstructure parameters are determined using Rietveld quantitative phase analysis.The transmission electron microscope(TEM)images and Rietveld analysis reveal almost isotropic particle size in the nano range with a very narrow size distribution.The obtained phase percentage of PbS and PbSO4are smaller than nominated values(x)suggesting dissolving of some Pb and S ions into NCO which is then confirmed by the analysis of Fourier-transform infrared(FTIR)spectra of nanocomposite samples.The absorption spectra are modified upon doping NCO with PbS.The optical band gaps of the nanocomposites increase as the amount of PbS augments.The effect of alloying on extinction coefficient,refractive index,dielectric constant,optical conductivity,the intensity,and emitted color from the photoluminescence of the nanocomposite samples are also studied.The refractive index value of NCO and NCO-PbS nanocomposite samples exhibit normal dispersions.The photoluminescent measurements reveal that the NCO-PbS nanocomposites can emit a violet color.The improvement in the values of the nonlinear optical(NLO)parameters of pristine NCO at high frequencies or the nanocomposite samples at low frequencies,are made them used in NLO photonic devices.

Dynamic mechanical analysis of single walled carbon nanotubes/polymethyl methacrylate nanocomposite films

Dynamic mechanical properties of nanocomposite films with different ratios of single walled carbon nanotubes/polymethyl methacrylate（SWCNTs/PMMA） are studied. Nanocomposite films of different ratios（0, 0.5, 1.0, and2.0 weight percent（wt%）） of SWCNTs/PMMA are fabricated by using a casting technique. The morphological and structural properties of both SWCNT powder and SWCNTs/PMMA nanocomposite films are investigated by using a high resolution transmission electron microscope and x-ray diffractometer respectively. The mechanical properties including the storage modulus, loss modulus, loss factor（tan δ） and stiffness of the nanocomposite film as a function of temperature are recorded by using a dynamic mechanical analyzer at a frequency of 1 Hz. Compared with pure PMMA film, the nanocomposite films with different ratios of SWCNTs/PMMA are observed to have enhanced storage moduli, loss moduli and high stiffness, each of which is a function of temperature. The intensity of the tan δ peak for pure PMMA film is larger than those of the nanocomposite films. The glass transition temperature（T g） of SWCNTs/PMMA nanocomposite film shifts towards the higher temperature side with respect to pure PMMA film from 91.2？C to 99.5？C as the ratio of SWCNTs/PMMA increases from 0 to 2.0 wt%.

Decrease of back recombination rate in CdS quantum dots sensitized solar cells using reduced graphene oxide

The photovoltaic performance of CdS quantum dots sensitized solar cells （QDSSCs） using the 0.2 wt% of reduced graphene oxide and TiO2 nanoparticles （RGO＋TiO2 nanocomposite） photoanode is investigated. CdS QDs are adsorbed onto RGO＋TiO2 nanocomposite films by the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction （SILAR） technique for several cycles. The current density-voltage （J-V） characteristic curves of the assembled QDSSCs are measured at AM1.5 simulated sunlight. The optimal photovoltaic performance for CdS QDSSC was achieved for six SILAR cycles. Solar cells based on the RGO＋TiO2 nanocomposite photoanode achieve a 33% increase in conversion efficiency （η） compared with those based on plain TiO2 nanoparticle （NP） photoanodes. The electron back recombination rates decrease significantly for CdS QDSSCs based on RGO＋TiO2 nanocomposite photoanodes. The lifetime constant （τ） for CdS QDSSC based on the RGO＋TiO2 nanocomposite photoanode is at least one order of magnitude larger than that based on the bare TiO2NPs photoanode.

Structural and optical characteristic features of RF sputtered CdS/ZnO thin films

In this study,CdS/ZnO(2:3 mol%)thin films are successfully deposited on quartz substrates by using the sputtering technique.Good images on the structural and optical characteristic features of CdS/ZnO thin films before and after annealing are obtained.The CdS/ZnO thin films are annealed respectively at temperatures of 373 K,473 K,and 573 K and the structural features are examined by XRD,ATR-FTIR,and FESEM.The optical properties of CdS/ZnO thin films such as refractive indices,absorption coefficients,optical band gap energy values,Urbach energy values,lattice dielectric constants,and high frequency dielectric constants are determined from spectrophotometer data recorded over the spectral range of 300 nm-2500 nm.Dispersion parameters are investigated by using a single-oscillator model.Photoluminescence spectra of CdS/ZnO thin films show an overall decrease in their intensity peaks after annealing.The third-order nonlinear optical parameter,and nonlinear refractive index are also estimated.

Alloyed CdTe_0.6S_0.4Quantum Dots Sensitized TiO₂Electrodes for Photovoltaic Applications

The photovoltaic performance of alloyed CdTe0.6S0.4 quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) is investigated. Fluorine doped Tin Oxide (FTO) substrates were coated with 20 nm-diameter TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Presynthesized colloidal solution of alloyed CdTe0.6S0.4 quantum dots (QDs) of 4.2 nm was deposited onto TiO2 NPs substrates using direct adsorption (DA) technique, by dipping for different times at ambient conditions. The FTO counter electrodes were coated with platinum, while the electrolyte containing I-/I-3 redox species was sandwiched between the two electrodes. Compared to pure CdTe QDs and CdS QDs, CdTe0.6S0.4 QDs showed better photovoltaic performance. The J-V characteristic curves of the assembled QDSSCs were measured at AM 1.5 simulated sunlight. The short current density (Jsc) and efficiency (η) increase with dipping time. At 24 h dipping time, the open-circuit photovoltage Voc, Jsc, fill factor (FF), and η were 0.46 volts, 1.54 mA/cm2, 0.43% and 0.31%, respectively.