Solution combustion is an exciting phenomenon, which involves propagation of self-sustained exothermic reactions along an aqueous or sol–gel media. This process allows for the synthesis of a variety of nanoscale materials, including oxides, metals, alloys, and sulfides. This Review focuses on the analysis of new approaches and results in the field of solution combustion synthesis (SCS) obtained during recent years. Thermodynamics and kinetics of reactive solutions used in different chemical routes are considered, and the role of process parameters is discussed, emphasizing the chemical mechanisms that are responsible for rapid self-sustained combustion reactions. The basic principles for controlling the composition, structure, and nanostructure of SCS products, and routes to regulate the size and morphology of the nanoscale materials are also reviewed. Recently developed systems that lead to the formation of novel materials and unique structures (e.g., thin films and two-dimensional crystals) with unusual...

Solution Combustion Synthesis of Nanoscale Materials

Inorganic semiconductor nanostructures are ideal systems for exploring a large number of novel phenomena at the nanoscale and investigating the size and dimensionality dependence of their properties for potential applications. The use of such nanostructures with tailored geometries as building blocks is also expected to play crucial roles in future nanodevices. Since the discovery of carbon nanotubes much attention has been paid to exploring the usage of inorganic semiconductor nanostructures as field-emitters due to their low work functions, high aspect ratios and mechanical stabilities, and high electrical and thermal conductivities. This article provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art research activities in the field. It mainly focuses on the most widely studied inorganic nanostructures, such as ZnO, ZnS, Si, WO3, AlN, SiC, and their field-emission properties. We begin with a survey of inorganic semiconductor nanostructures and the field-emission principle, and then discuss the recent progresses on several kinds of important nanostructures and their field-emission characteristics in detail and overview some additional inorganic semiconducting nanomaterials in short. Finally, we conclude this review with some perspectives and outlook on the future developments in this area.

Inorganic semiconductor nanostructures and their field-emission applications

Nanotechnology is a promising field of interdisciplinary research. It opens up a wide array of opportunities in various fields like medicine, pharmaceuticals, electronics and agriculture. The potential uses and benefits of nanotechnology are enormous. The current global population is nearly 7 */billion with 50% living in Asia. A large proportion of those living in developing countries face daily food shortages as a result of environmental impacts or political instability, while in the developed world there is surplus of food. For developing countries, the drive is to develop drought and pest resistant crops, which also maximize yield. The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionise the health care, textile, materials, information and communication technology, and energy sectors has been well publicized. The application of nanotechnology to agriculture and food industries is also getting attention nowadays. Investments in agriculture and food nanotechnologies carry increasing weight because their potential benefits range from improved food quality and safety to reduced agricultural inputs and improved processing and nutrition. While most investment is made primarily in developed countries, research advancements provide glimpses of potential applications in agricultural, food, and water safety that could have significant impacts on rural populations in developing countries. This review is concentrated on modern strategies used for the management of water, pesticides, limitations in the use of chemical pesticides and potential of nano-materials in sustainable agriculture management as modern approaches of nanotechnology. 
 
   
 
 Key words: Agriculture, nanotechnology, nanofertilizer, nanoencapsulation, nanoherbicides.

Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture: Present concerns and future aspects

UV, Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, and Small: Newest Developments on Eu2+-Doped Nanophosphors

There will be one written paper of three hours duration carrying 70 marks divided into two parts. Part 1 (20 marks) will consist of compulsory short answer questions on the entire syllabus. Part 2 (50 marks) will consist of three sections. Each section will have three questions. The candidates will be expected to answer five questions in all choosing at least one from each section. Project work will carry 30 marks. The project needs to be done under the supervision of the teacher. The project work will be evaluated by a Visiting Examiner (who has expertise in that specific area), appointed locally and approved by the Council.

Environmental Science (AS)

A review on perovskite solar cells: Evolution of architecture, fabrication techniques, commercialization issues and status

Characterization and optical properties of Dy3+ doped nanocrystalline SrAl2O4: Eu2+ phosphor

A critical review on the efficiency improvement of upconversion assisted solar cells

Cadmium telluride (CdTe)/Cadmium sulphide (CdS) thin-film solar cell is a potential candidate for the production of energy through photovoltaic (PV) technology, which reduces the manufacturing cost by replacing the expensive silicon wafers. Many studies have focused on the key attributes, such as wide direct band gap and high absorption coefficient, of these semiconductors (CdTe and CdS) that are widely used for the purpose of industrial production and research developments. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review on the improvement and the performance of CdTe/CdS thin-film solar cells while optimizing the various structural parameters such as front contact, the thickness of the absorbing, buffer, window layers, and back contact. Firstly, we discuss the historical background, structural developments, and the advantages of CdTe/CdS solar cells over other contemporary cells. Secondly, the effects of various structural parameters on the performance of CdTe/CdS thin-film solar cells are also included in the discussion sections. Influence of pressure, including thermal and chemical treatments, is also included for understanding the improvement in cell performance. Moreover, the impacts of all these factors on the various PV parameters (open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and conversion efficiency) are discussed and analysed.

Ayush Khare

Papers

A review on perovskite solar cells: Evolution of architecture, fabrication techniques, commercialization issues and status

Characterization and optical properties of Dy3+ doped nanocrystalline SrAl2O4: Eu2+ phosphor

A critical review on the efficiency improvement of upconversion assisted solar cells

A review on the improvement in performance of CdTe/CdS thin-film solar cells through optimization of structural parameters

Comparative study of optical and structural properties of micro- and nanocrystalline SrAl2O4: Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphors