Crystal-field engineering of ultrabroadband mid-infrared emission in Co2+-doped nano-chalcogenide glass composites

Tunable and ultrabroadband mid-infrared (MIR) emissions in the range of 2.5–4.5 μm are firstly reported from Co²⁺-doped nano-chalcogenide (ChG) glass composites. The composites embedded with a variety of binary (ZnS, CdS, ZnSe) and ternary (ZnCdS, ZnSSe) ChG nanocrystals (NCs) can be readily obtained by a simple one-step thermal annealing method. They are highly transparent in the near- and mid-infrared wavelength region. Low-cost and commercially available Er³⁺-doped fiber lasers can be used as the excitation source. By crystal-field engineering of the embedded NCs through cation- or anion-substitution, the emission properties of Co²⁺ including its emission peak wavelength and bandwidth can be tailored in a broad spectral range. The phenomena can be accounted for by crystal-field theory. Such nano-ChG composites, perfectly filling the 3–4 μm spectral gap between the oscillations of Cr²⁺ and Fe²⁺ doped IIVI ChG crystals, may find important MIR photonic applications (e.g., gas sensing), or can be used directly as an efficient pump source for Fe²⁺: IIVI crystals which are suffering from lack of pump sources.     

Importance of finding the proper ratio of alkaline earth oxide in a lithium-bismuthate-phosphate glass in order to enhance the tailoring of structural and electrical properties

Structural features of the glass family xLi₂O- yMgO (4.8 Bi₂O₃ 47.6 P₂O₅) obtained by melt quenching technique were studied taking into account the density, FTIR and UV–vis spectra and also the electrical response observed by impedance spectroscopy. In this work it becomes clarified how the alkaline earth oxides stabilize the glassy matrix and also, the fundamental importance of determining the optimal proportion in order to obtain a flabby easily polarizable matrix to enhance the electrical behavior due to a boosted cation mobility. It is evidenced that when the glass composition becomes complex it is needed to take into account a larger number of structural parameters to understand, to predict or to design the resulting physical properties.     

Precipitating spinel into precursor glass and its assistance in crystallization

The crystallization phenomena of spinel in CaO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-Fe₂O₃ glass have received much attention due to the particular role in preparation of glass-ceramic materials, which represent an effective option to manage hazardous waste. In this study, both preliminary spinel and secondary spinel were precipitated in the precursor glass. The formation of these spinel was meticulously assessed by a combination of X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The structure of the microenvironment in the precursor glass was characterized by Raman spectrums. These advanced techniques highlight the potential for one-step crystallization of the glass. The investigation, which focused on one-step crystallization, demonstrated the growth of pyroxene on spinel accompanying a migration of chromium. The results also show the microstructure of the obtained glass-ceramic was very dependent on the heat-treat temperature. This study not only unambiguously reveals the precipitation mechanisms of spinel but also provides more documentation for one-step crystallization in the glass-ceramics field.     

Physical Stability of Octenyl Succinate–Modified Polysaccharides and Whey Proteins for Potential Use as Bioactive Carriers in Food Systems

The high cost and potential toxicity of biodegradable polymers like poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic)acid (PLGA) has increased the interest in natural and modified biopolymers as bioactive carriers. This study characterized the physical stability (water sorption and state transition behavior) of selected starch and proteins: octenyl succinate–modified depolymerized waxy corn starch (DWxCn), waxy rice starch (DWxRc), phytoglycogen, whey protein concentrate (80%, WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), and α‐lactalbumin (α‐L) to determine their potential as carriers of bioactive compounds under different environmental conditions. After enzyme modification and particle size characterization, glass transition temperature and moisture isotherms were used to characterize the systems. DWxCn and DWxRc had increased water sorption compared to native starch. The level of octenyl succinate anhydrate (OSA) modification (3% and 7%) did not reduce the water sorption of the DWxCn and phytoglycogen samples. The Guggenheim–Andersen–de Boer model indicated that native waxy corn had significantly (P < 0.05) higher water monolayer capacity followed by 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxCn, WPI, 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxRc, α‐L, and native phytoglycogen. WPC had significantly lower water monolayer capacity. All Tg values matched with the solid‐like appearance of the biopolymers. Native polysaccharides and whey proteins had higher glass transition temperature (Tg) values. On the other hand, depolymerized waxy starches at 7%‐OSA modification had a “melted” appearance when exposed to environments with high relative humidity (above 70%) after 10 days at 23 °C. The use of depolymerized and OSA‐modified polysaccharides blended with proteins created more stable blends of biopolymers. Hence, this biopolymer would be suitable for materials exposed to high humidity environments in food applications.     

Design and synthesis of foam glasses from recycled materials

Recycling has emerged as an environmental key point due to the diminishing of natural resources and the generation of ever-increasing amounts of industrial solid wastes. Glass wastes are among the materials that attract great interest in the recycling concept. This work presents the results of foams production from four series of compositions. The first series comprises powders of a sodium-calcium-silicate sheet glass cullet as the main component, an alkali-earth aluminosilicate glass as an additive, and a reagent grade silicon carbide (SiC) powder as gassing agent. In the second series, the glass cullet was used in combination with fly ashes (FLA) as main components, while SiC waste from abrasive paper served as foaming agent. In the third and fourth series, carbonates (calcite and dolomite) were used for foaming powder mixtures composed of sheet glass cullet and FLA, and powdered cathode ray tube panel glasses, respectively. All the processing parameters, including the main components, the nature and content of foaming agents are shown to play a crucial role on the foaming ability and final properties of the glass foams.     

Plasmonic-excitonic multi-hybrid glass-based nanocomposites incorporating Ag plus core-shell CdSe/CdS and alloyed CdSxSe1−x nanoparticles

Successful fabrication of glass-based hybrid nanocomposites (GHNCs) incorporating Ag, core-shell CdSe/CdS and CdS_xSe_1?x nanoparticles (NPs) is herein reported. Both metallic (Ag) and semiconductor (CdSe/CdS) NPs were pre-synthesized, suspended in colloids and added into the sol-gel reaction medium which was used to fabricate the GHNCs. During fabrication of the nanocomposites a fraction (20–60%) of core-shell CdSe/CdS NPs was alloyed into CdS_xSe_1?x (0.20 < x < 0.35) NPs without changing morphology. Modulation of in situ alloying is possible via the relative content of organics added into the sol-gel protocol. Within colloids Ag (core-shell CdSe/CdS) NPs presented average diameter and polydispersity index of 49.5 nm (4.2 nm) and 0.41 (0.21), respectively. On the other hand, the Ag (core-shell CdSe/CdS) NPs’ average diameter and polydispersity index assessed from the GHNCs were respectively 51.5 nm (4.1 nm) and 0.43 (0.25), revealing negligible aggregation of the nanophases within the glass template. The new GHNCs herein introduced presented two independent excitonic transitions associated to homogenously dispersed semiconductor NPs, peaking around 420 nm (core-shell CdSe/CdS) and 650 nm (CdS_xSe_1?x) and matching the plasmonic resonance (Ag NPs) in the 400–500 nm range. We envisage that the new GHNCs represent very promising candidates for superior light manipulation while illuminated with multiple laser beams in quantum interference-based devices.     

平面结构冗余并联机构的误差敏感度分析

针对一种含闭环支链的平面结构冗余并联机构进行误差敏感度分析。分析了该机构的逆运动学和正运动学。基于矩阵法建立了机构的误差模型，并通过反解、正解结合的方法对该误差模型进行了验证。基于误差模型，得到了评价机构误差敏感度的指标，绘制了各指标在工作空间内的等值线图。基于误差敏感度指标，定义了低误差敏感性工作空间，绘制了低误差敏感性工作空间在工作空间中的分布图。与平面3-RRR并联机构进行了误差敏感度对比分析。结果表明，该机构的低误差敏感性工作空间占比较大，同时可以通过调节其冗余支链不断扩大低误差敏感性工作空间，使机构在大范围空间中保持低误差敏感性。     

平面阵列波导光栅波导模式参量的分析

用周期波导的方法分析平面阵列波导光栅(AWG)的本征方程及波导模式参数,结果表明波导传播常数是带状分布的,与波导间隔有关。分析结果对器件的优化设计有一定的指导意义。     

SOI光电子集成

SOI（Silicon-on-Insulator)光电子集成已成为十分引人注目的研究课题，其工艺与CMOS工艺完全兼容，可以实现低成本的SOI基整片集成光电子回路。本文综述了近几年来SOI集成光电子器件的发展以及一些最新的研究进展，着重分析几种最新型光无源器件的工作原理和结构，包括SOI光波导、SOI光波导耦合器、SOI光波导开关、相位阵列波导光栅（PAWG）、基于SOI的光探测器等，并介绍了中国科学院半导体所集成光电子国家重点实验室的研究进展。     

分析介质光波导传播特性的Cole—Hopf变换法

采用Cole-Hopf变换法，将平板光波导导模所满足的二阶常微分方程（Helmholtz方程）变换成一阶常微分方程（Riccati方程），用较简单且有效的方法分析导模的特性。给出了多层阶跃型及渐变型平板波导导模的精确解析解和数值解法及实例；给出了非线性平板波导传播特性的数值计算法及实例。