Electrical properties of a-antimony selenide

This paper reports conduction mechanism in a-Sb₂Se₃ over a wide range of temperature (238 to 338 K) and frequency (5 Hz to 100 kHz). The d.c. conductivity measured as a function of temperature shows semiconducting behaviour with activation energy ΔE=0.42 eV. Thermally induced changes in the electrical and dielectric properties of a-Sb₂Se₃ have been examined. The a.c. conductivity in the material has been explained using modified CBH model. The band conduction and single polaron hopping is dominant above room temperature. However, in the lower temperature range the bipolaron hopping dominates.     

Bilinear Fourier Restriction Theorems

We provide a general scheme for proving L ^p estimates for certain bilinear Fourier restrictions outside the local L ² setting. As an application, we show how such estimates follow for the lacunary polygon. In contrast with prior approaches, our argument avoids any use of the Rubio de Francia Littlewood?CPaley inequality.     

Polynomial approximation, local polynomial convexity, and degenerate CR singularities

We begin with the following question: given a closed disc and a complex-valued function , is the uniform algebra on generated by z and F equal to ? When F∈C¹(D), this question is complicated by the presence of points in the surface that have complex tangents. Such points are called CR singularities. Let p∈S be a CR singularity at which the order of contact of the tangent plane with S is greater than 2; i.e. a degenerate CR singularity. We provide sufficient conditions for S to be locally polynomially convex at the degenerate singularity p. This is useful because it is essential to know whether S is locally polynomially convex at a CR singularity in order to answer the initial question. To this end, we also present a general theorem on the uniform algebra generated by z and F, which we use in our investigations. This result may be of independent interest because it is applicable even to non-smooth, complex-valued F.     

Krichever-Novikov global operator formalism: NSR superstring in curved background

The Neveu-Schwarz-Ramond type II closed superstring is considered to evolve in a curved space-time manifold. The Krichever-Novikov global operator formalism is used to construct the generators of a super-conformal algebra on a Riemann surface . The computation for the quantum algebra of these generators is explicitly presented. It is shown that the theory is free from super-conformal anomalies if the target manifold is ten dimensional and satisfies the Ricci flatness condition.     

The oblique chiral nematic phase in calamitic bimesogens

ABSTRACT

The discovery of the oblique chiral (or, the twist-bend, N_TB) nematic phase predicted for bent-core mesogens has engendered much interest due to its unique structure and physical properties, and the possibility of use in the next generation of fast electro-optic technology. Bimesogenic calamitic as well as bent-core mesogens are found to form the N_TB phase. Here, we report direct measurements of the temperature dependence of the conical tilt and the evidence of volcano-like orientational distribution of molecules in the N_TB phase. Optical and x-ray scattering investigations of two single-component calamitic bimesogens and their mixtures show that, while the Maier–Saupe orientational distribution function (ODF) is valid for the higher temperature nematic phase, a generalised expansion in terms of even Legendre functions is needed for the N_TB phase. Temperature dependence of the ODFs and the order parameters 〈P₂(cosβ)〉, 〈P₄(cosβ)〉, and 〈P₆(cosβ)〉 has been measured in both phases. The parameters 〈P₂(cosβ)〉 and 〈P₄(cosβ)〉 increase/decrease in the N/N_TB phase with decreasing temperature, while 〈P₆(cosβ)〉 remains vanishingly small for all samples. The value of 〈P₄(cosβ)〉 becomes negative in the N_TB phase confirming a conical distribution of molecules as they follow a helical trajectory keeping the local director tilted at an angle α wrt the macroscopic director. The heliconical tilt calculated from ODFs, exhibits a power law behaviour with temperature, vanishing at the transition to the N phase.     

Structural designing,spectral and computational studies of bioactive Schiff's base ligand and its transition metal complexes

Transition metal complexes of Mn(II) and Ni(II) have been synthesized with novel bioactive Schiff's base ligand. Schiff's base ligand i.e. benzoylacetone‐bis(2‐amino‐4‐methylbenzothioazole) has been synthesized via condensation reaction between 2‐amino‐4‐methylbenzothioazole and benzoylacetone in 2:1 ratio, respectively. Synthesized ligand has been characterized using elemental analysis, infra‐red, ¹H–NMR and mass spectroscopy techniques. Characterization of complexes was based on magnetic moment, molar conductance, elemental analysis, electronic spectra, infra‐red and EPR spectroscopic techniques. Molar conductance data suggest that metal complexes are non‐electrolytic in nature. Therefore, these complexes are formulated as [M(L)X₂], where M = Mn(II), Ni(II), L = Schiff's base ligand, X = Cl^?, CH₃COO^?, NO₃^?. Data of characterization study suggest octahedral geometry for Mn(II) and Ni(II) complexes. Geometry of metal complexes was also optimized with the help of computational study i.e. molecular modelling. Computational study also suggests octahedral geometry for complexes. Free ligand as well as its all metal complexes have been screened against the growth of pathogenic bacteria (E.coli, S.aureus) and fungi (C.albicans, C.krusei, C.parapsilosis, C.tropicalis) to assess their inhibition potential. The inhibition data revealed that metal complexes exhibit higher inhibition potential against the growth of bacteria and fungi microorganisms than free ligand.     

Porous silicon layers prepared by electrochemical etching for application in silicon thin film solar cells

In this paper, multilayer structures of porous silicon were fabricated by using electrochemical etching and characterized for its optical properties and surface morphology. Samples of monolayer of porous silicon were grown to study the characteristics of porous layer formation with respect to applied current density, etching time and hydrofluoric acid concentrations. Photoluminescence peaks of red emission at wavelength 695 and 650 nm were observed from multilayer porous silicon structures. By atomic force microscopy measurement, hillocks like surface were clearly observed within the host material, which confirmed the formation of pores.     

Hydrogenation of Pd-capped Mg thin films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering

Structural and optical properties of pure Mg thin film coated with Pd have been investigated. Pd-capped Mg thin films had been prepared by DC magnetron sputtering. This work presents an ex situ study on hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics of Pd/Mg films at different conditions using XRD, AFM and optical spectrophotometer. We have succeeded to load thin films of Mg to MgH₂ at normal temperature and normal pressure of hydrogen gas. In hydrogenation, α-MgH₂ phase of magnesium hydride was observed in hydrogenated films at 200 °C and γ-MgH₂ at 250 °C respectively. The desorption kinetics in vacuum also revealed the phase transformation α-MgH₂ to γ-MgH₂. A reflectance change was observed in hydrogenated films in comparison of as deposited thin film. Hydrogenated (H loaded) samples were observed partially transparent in comparison of as deposited.