Spray-Deposited Rare Earth Metal Ion (Sm3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, La3+)-Doped CdO Thin Films for Enhanced Formaldehyde Gas Sensing Characteristics.

This study shows the electrical conductivity-dependent gas sensing characteristics of spray-deposited rare earth (RE) metal ion (Sm3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, La3+)-doped cadmium oxide (CdO) thin films on soda-lime microscope glass substrates at 300 °C. We examined the deposited films' structural, surface microstructural, DC electrical, and gas sensing features. The X-ray diffraction study indicates that all samples were polycrystalline, with the favored growth direction shifting from the (111) plane to the (200) plane. The highest root-mean-square values were obtained for the Pr-doped CdO thin film (5.86 nm). The surface microstructure of CdO thin films was significantly influenced by the RE metal ion dopant, with typical grain size values ranging from 64 nm to 134 nm depending on the dopant. The carrier concentration and resistivity of CdO films vary based on the RE metal ions used as dopants. Low resistivity (3.01 × 10-4 Ω.cm) was achieved for the CdO thin film doped with La. High gas sensitivity (71.42%) was achieved for CdO thin films doped with La. The donor dopant regulated the electrical conductivity and gas sensing capabilities of CdO thin films.

Evaluation of nonlinear optical properties from molecular descriptors of benzimidazole metal complexes by principal component analysis.

In the present work, semiempirical quantum chemical method (PM6) has been used for the simulation of molecular descriptors of first row transition metal ions incorporated benzimidazole metal complexes. Metal complexes with and without substituents are considered for the analysis. In both the cases, molecules show distinct properties with respect to the molecular descriptors. Since the dimension of the data set is large, principal component analysis has been used and the obtained principal components, PCA1 and PCA2, are linearly regressed with hyperpolarizability values. The obtained results indicate that molecular energy plays a dominant role in the nonlinear optical properties of benzimidazole metal complexes. Further, it is observed that the bond angle, global hardness and heat of formation of the molecules have considerable impact on the hyperpolarizability values.

Role of annealing on the structural and optical properties of nanostructured diaceto bis-benzimidazole Mn(II) complex thin films.

A coordination complex, manganese incorporated benzimidazole, thin films were prepared by chemical bath deposition method. Structural characterization of the deposited films, carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance spectral analyses, reveals the distorted tetrahedral environment of the metal ion with bis-benzimidazole ligand. Further the molecular composition of the deposited metal complex was estimated by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The prepared thin films were thermally treated to study the effect of annealing temperature on the surface morphology and the results showed that the surface homogeneity of the films increased for thermally treated films up to 150°C. But distortion and voids were observed for the films annealed at 200°C. The Raman analysis reveals the molecular hydrogen bond distortion which leads to the evaporation of the metal complex from the thin film surface with respect to annealing temperature. The linear and nonlinear optical properties of the as prepared and annealed films were studied using ultraviolet-visible transmittance spectroscopy, second harmonic generation and Z-scan analyses. Films annealed at 150°C show a better linear transmittance in the visible region and larger SHG efficiency and third order nonlinear susceptibility when compared with the other samples. Further, the film annealed at 150°C was subjected to optical switching analysis and demonstrated to have an inverted switching behavior.

4-Fluoro-N-(4-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)aniline.

In the title compound, C13H10FNO, the benzene ring planes are inclined at an angle of 50.52 (8)°. A characteristic of aromatic Schiff bases with N-aryl substituents is that the terminal phenyl rings are twisted relative to the plane of the HC=N link between them. In this case, the HC=N unit makes dihedral angles of 10.6 (2) and 40.5 (2)° with the hy-droxy-benzene and fluro-benzene rings, respectively. In the crystal, O-H⋯N and C-H⋯F hydrogen bonds lead to the formation of chains along the c- and b-axis directions, respectively. C-H⋯π contacts link mol-ecules along a and these contacts combine to generate a three-dimensional network with mol-ecules stacked along the b-axis direction.

Design and fabrication of eight zone vertical dynamic gradient freeze system for organic single crystal growth.

Design and construction of the vertical dynamic gradient freeze (VDGF) system operating in the temperature range from 50 °C to 500 °C for growing organic single crystals are described. The design of VDGF system consists of furnace, control system, translation assembly, and image capturing device. Furnace has been constructed with eight zones controlled independently by a dynamic temperature control system for achieving desired thermal environment and multiple temperature gradients, which are essential for the growth of organic single crystals. The transparent furnace enables direct observation to record and monitor the solid-liquid interface and growth of crystals through charge coupled device based video camera. The system is fully computerized hence it is possible to retrieve the complete growth and furnace history. In order to investigate the functioning of the constructed VDGF system for the growth of organic single crystals, a well known organic nonlinear optical single crystal of benzimidazole was grown. The crystalline quality and the optical transmittance of the grown crystal were studied.

4-Bromo-N-(4-hy-droxy-benzyl-idene)-aniline.

In the title compound, C(13)H(10)BrNO, the benzene ring planes are inclined at an angle of 48.85 (17)°, resulting in a nonplanar mol-ecule. A characteristic of aromatic Schiff bases with N-aryl substituents is that the terminal phenyl rings are twisted relative to the HC=N plane. In this case, the HC=N unit makes dihedral angles of 11.1 (4) and 38.5 (3)° with the hy-droxy-benzene and bromo-benzene rings, respectively. In the crystal, the molecules are linked by O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds to form infinite (C8) chains along the b axis.

4-[(E)-(4-Methyl-phen-yl)imino-meth-yl]phenol.

In the title compound, C(14)H(13)NO, the two rings show significant deviation from coplanarity, with a dihedral angle between the two planes of 49.40 (5)°. The hy-droxy group is involved in an inter-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bond, forming an extended one-dimensional zigzag chain along (001).

Growth and characterization of thiosemicarbazide hydrochloride: a semiorganic NLO material.

Thiosemicarbazide hydrochloride (TSCHCL) was synthesized by mixing thiosemicarbazide and hydrochloride in 1:1 molar ratio in double distilled water. Single crystals of TSCHCL were grown by slow evaporation at room temperature and were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction study to determine the molecular structure and by FT-IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectral analyses to confirm the synthesized compound. Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses reveal the thermal stability of the crystal. The transmission spectrum of TSCHCL showed that the crystal is transparent in the wavelength range 380-1100 nm. High resolution X-ray diffractometry (HRXRD) was employed to evaluate the perfection of the grown crystal. Mechanical properties of the grown crystal were studied using Vickers microhardness test. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the powdered TSCHCL was tested using Nd:YAG laser and is ∼1.5 times that of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate.

Spectral studies on Ag8+ ions irradiated LAHCl·H2O and LAHBr·H2O single crystals.

L-arginine hydrochloride monohydrate and L-arginine hydrobromide monohydrate single crystals are irradiated by 100 MeV Ag8+ swift heavy ions. The residual gases liberated from the irradiated samples are monitored as a function of ion fluence using quadrupole mass analyzer. The C2H3+, C2H2, N2, CO, HCl and CO2 are the dominant gases liberated. Fourier transform infrared spectra of irradiated crystals explain the breaking of bonds in a localized region of the crystals. The crystallinity of irradiated crystals is analyzed by powder X-ray diffractions.

Structural, spectral, optical and dielectric properties of copper and glycine doped LAHCl single crystals.

Cu2+ and glycine doped L-arginine monohydrochloride monohydrate (LAHCl) single crystals were grown by slow solvent evaporation technique. The grown single crystals were confirmed by X-ray diffraction study and the interaction of dopants with LAHCl molecule was identified in Fourier transform infrared spectra. The crystalline perfection of pure and doped crystals was analyzed by high resolution X-ray diffraction studies. Vickers microhardness and UV-visible spectroscopy were carried out respectively to study the mechanical stability and optical transmittance of pure and doped LAHCl single crystals. He-Ne laser of wavelength 632.8 nm was used to measure refractive index and birefringence of grown crystals. The second harmonic generation efficiency was also measured for pure and doped LAHCl single crystals using Nd:YAG laser.

Growth of ninhydrin single crystal and its characterization.

A novel organic nonlinear optical crystal ninhydrin having good optical quality was grown by solution technique using aqua solution. The quality of the crystal was also examined by high-resolution X-ray diffraction study. Solubility studies were made at different temperatures. Functional groups present in the grown material were identified from the vibrational frequencies of recorded FTIR spectrum. Transmittance of the crystal was recorded using the UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer. From the thermal analysis it was observed that the material exhibits single sharp melting point. The fluorescence spectrum of ninhydrin was recorded. The Vicker's microhardness values were measured for the grown crystal. Second harmonic generation conversion efficiency estimated using Kurtz and Perry method is about five times that of KDP.

Growth and characterization of glycine picrate single crystal.

Glycine picrate (GP), an organic material, was synthesized and successfully grown by solution growth method. Cell parameters of the grown crystals were obtained from the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and the presence of functional groups was identified by FTIR study. Its optical properties were examined by UV-vis-NIR analysis, which shows that the crystal is transparent between the wavelengths 400 nm and 1000 nm. Thermal analysis carried out for the glycine picrate reveals that the crystal exhibits a single sharp weight loss at 214 degrees C. The fluorescence spectrum of glycine picrate was recorded. The Vicker's microhardness values were measured for the grown crystal.

Growth, structural, optical and thermal properties of gamma-glycine crystal.

Single crystals of gamma-glycine were grown from a mixture of glycine, water and lithium bromide. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the growth of gamma-glycine phase. Presence of various functional groups of gamma-glycine was identified by FTIR spectrum. Optical absorbance spectrum recorded in the wavelength range of UV-vis-NIR revealed that this crystal has good optical transparency in the range 250-1500 nm. Vickers microhardness values were estimated on the prominent (100) face. Thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analyses were carried out to study the thermal properties of gamma-glycine. Second harmonic generation efficiency of the crystal measured by Kurtz's powder method using Nd:YAG laser is about three times that of KDP.