Islamic Azad University

About: Islamic Azad University is a education organization based out in Tehran, Iran. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 83635 authors who have published 113437 publications receiving 1275049 citations. The organization is also known as: Azad University.

Coordination Chemistry Dictates the Structural Defects in Lead Halide Perovskites

Abstract: We show the influence of species present in precursor solution during formation of lead halide perovskite materials on the structural defects of the films. The coordination of lead by competing solvent molecules and iodide ions dictate the type of complexes present in the films. Depending on the processing conditions all PbIS5+, PbI2S4, PbI3S3−, PbI4S22−, PbI5S23−, PbI64−and 1D (Pb2I4)n chains are observed by absorption measurements. Different parameters are studied such as polarity of the solvent, concentration of iodide ions, concentration of solvent molecules and temperature. It is concluded that strongly coordinating solvents will preferentially form species with a low number of iodide ions and less coordinative solvents generate high concentration of PbI6−. We furthermore propose that all these plumbate ions may act as structural defects determining electronic properties of the photovoltaic films.

Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles and their effect on the compressive strength and setting time of self-compacted concrete paste as cementitious composites.

Abstract: In the present study, the mechanical properties of self-compacting concrete were investigated after the addition of different amounts of ZnO nanoparticles. The zinc oxide nanoparticles, with an average particle size of about 30 nm, were synthesized and their properties studied with the help of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. The prepared nanoparticles were partially added to self-compacting concrete at different concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0%), and the mechanical (flexural and split tensile) strength of the specimens measured after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, respectively. The present results have shown that the ZnO nanoparticles were able to improve the flexural strength of self-compacting concrete. The increased ZnO content of more than 0.2% could increase the flexural strength, and the maximum flexural and split tensile strength was observed after the addition of 0.5% nanoparticles. Finally, ZnO nanoparticles could improve the pore structure of the self-compacted concrete and shift the distributed pores to harmless and less-harmful pores, while increasing mechanical strength.