A common misconception is that the irradiation of solids with energetic electrons and ions has exclusively detrimental effects on the properties of target materials. In addition to the well-known cases of doping of bulk semiconductors and ion beam nitriding of steels, recent experiments show that irradiation can also have beneficial effects on nanostructured systems. Electron or ion beams may serve as tools to synthesize nanoclusters and nanowires, change their morphology in a controllable manner, and tailor their mechanical, electronic, and even magnetic properties. Harnessing irradiation as a tool for modifying material properties at the nanoscale requires having the full microscopic picture of defect production and annealing in nanotargets. In this article, we review recent progress in the understanding of effects of irradiation on various zero-dimensional and one-dimensional nanoscale systems, such as semiconductor and metal nanoclusters and nanowires, nanotubes, and fullerenes. We also consider the t...

Ion and electron irradiation-induced effects in nanostructured materials

Spectroscopy is the study of matter interacting with electromagnetic radiation (e.g., light). The electromagnetic spectrum in Figure 1 illustrates the many different types of electromagnetic radiation, including gamma rays (γ-rays), X-rays, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible light, infrared (IR) radiation, microwaves, and radio waves. The frequency (ν) and wavelength (λ) ranges associated with each form of radiant energy are also indicated in Figure 1.

Introduction to Spectroscopy

We analyze theoretically the optical properties of ideal semiconductor crystallites so small that they show quantum confinement in all three dimensions [quantum dots (QD's)]. In the limit of a QD much smaller than the bulk exciton size, the linear spectrum will be a series of lines, and we consider the phonon broadening of these lines. The lowest interband transition will saturate like a two-level system, without exchange and Coulomb screening. Depending on the broadening, the absorption and the changes in absorption and refractive index resulting from saturation can become very large, and the local-field effects can become so strong as to give optical bistability without external feedback. The small QD limit is more readily achieved with narrow-band-gap semiconductors.

Theory of the linear and nonlinear optical properties of semiconductor microcrystallites

The solution of electromagnetic scattering by a homogeneous prolate (or oblate) spheroidal particle with an arbitrary size and refractive index is obtained for any angle of incidence by solving Maxwell's equations under given boundary conditions. The method used is that of separating the vector wave equations in the spheroidal coordinates and expanding them in terms of the spheroidal wavefunctions. The unknown coefficients for the expansion are determined by a system of equations derived from the boundary conditions regarding the continuity of tangential components of the electric and magnetic vectors across the surface of the spheroid. The solutions both in the prolate and oblate spheroidal coordinate systems result in a same form, and the equations for the oblate spheroidal system can be obtained from those for the prolate one by replacing the prolate spheroidal wavefunctions with the oblate ones and vice versa. For an oblique incidence, the polarized incident wave is resolved into two components, the TM mode for which the magnetic vector vibrates perpendicularly to the incident plane and the TE mode for which the electric vector vibrates perpendicularly to this plane. For the incidence along the rotation axis the resultant equations are given in the form similar to the one for a sphere given by the Mie theory. The physical parameters involved are the following five quantities: the size parameter defined by the product of the semifocal distance of the spheroid and the propagation constant of the incident wave, the eccentricity, the refractive index of the spheroid relative to the surrounding medium, the incident angle between the direction of the incident wave and the rotation axis, and the angles that specify the direction of the scattered wave.

Light Scattering by a Spheroidal Particle

This book presents the separation-of-variables and T-matrix methods of calculating the scattering of electromagnetic waves by particles. Analytical details and computer programs are provided for determining the scattering and absorption characteristics of the finite-thickness slab, infinite circular cylinder (normal incidence), general axisymmetric particle, and sphere.The computer programs are designed to generate data that is easy to graph and visualize, and test cases in the book illustrate the capabilities of the programs. The connection between the theory and the computer programs is reinforced by references in the computer programs to equations in the text. This cross-referencing will help the reader understand the computer programs, and, if necessary, modify them for other purposes.

Light scattering by particles: Computational methods

High performance polyvinyl alcohol/multi walled carbon nanotube/polyaniline hydrogel (PVA/MWCNT/PAni) based dye sensitized solar cells

Growth of silver nanoparticles through photo induced bioreduction mechanism on the surface of diatom cells, which is a kind of photosensitive fresh water organism containing hydrated amorphous silica structure, has been found to be a cost-effective, rapid, non-toxic, eco-friendly, photo-induced bottom-up process. This material shows broad absorbance in the visible light spectra. Light sensitive fucoxanthin pigment of diatoms that contain hydroxyl (− OH) groups, play a vital role in the formation of silver cluster on the surface of diatom cells and its growth process. Involvement of the compounds and proteins of the diatoms which are responsible for reduction of metal ions and stabilization of the grown nanoparticles on diatom cells, are confirmed by FTIR analysis. Investigations are done to see if the synthesized samples acted as sensing material in the fabrication of a room temperature sensor of dissolved ammonia. With increase in ammonia concentration the visible light absorption peaks tend to higher intensity with blue shift due to the formation of [Ag(NH3)2]+ complexes causing repulsion between the Ag nanoparticles and consequently lead to the formation of smaller Ag nanoparticles. The intensity of absorption of the as-synthesized material is linearly correlated with the concentration of dissolved ammonia as observed from 0 to 100 ppm. The use of naturally occurring diatoms for Ag nanoparticles synthesis has the benefits of amenability for large-scale easy production. Also the experimental findings indicate that the as-synthesized material can act as fast and reliable sensing material.

Synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using diatom cells for ammonia sensing

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of Gadolinium doped nanocrystalline titania: An experimental and theoretical study

Surface modification of core-shell silk/PVA nanofibers by oxygen dielectric barrier discharge plasma: Studies of physico-chemical properties and drug release behavior

Laser light scattering characteristics of tropical fresh water diatoms and their siliceous frustules have been measured as a function of scattering angle at 543, 594 and 632 nm wavelengths by using an indigenously designed and fabricated laboratory light scattering instrument in an attempt to carryout morphological characterization of the unique regular structures specific to these type of tropical fresh water diatoms. The instrument incorporates an array of 16 highly sensitive static Si detectors that measured scattered light signals from 10° to 170° in steps of 1°. A comparative analysis between the results obtained by using the three different incident wavelengths has shown that highest resolution is obtained at 543 nm incident wavelength.

Gazi A. Ahmed

Papers

High performance polyvinyl alcohol/multi walled carbon nanotube/polyaniline hydrogel (PVA/MWCNT/PAni) based dye sensitized solar cells

Synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using diatom cells for ammonia sensing

Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of Gadolinium doped nanocrystalline titania: An experimental and theoretical study

Surface modification of core-shell silk/PVA nanofibers by oxygen dielectric barrier discharge plasma: Studies of physico-chemical properties and drug release behavior

Laboratory measurements of light scattering by tropical fresh water diatoms