journal of theoretical and applied physics 

About: journal of theoretical and applied physics is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Plasma & Thin film. Over the lifetime, 416 publications have been published receiving 4659 citations.

Williamson-Hall analysis in estimation of lattice strain in nanometer-sized ZnO particles

Abstract: ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation method at 450C. X-ray diffraction result indicates that the sample is having a crystalline wurtzite phase. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) result reveals that the ZnO sample is spherical in shape with an average grain size of about 50nm. X-ray peak broadening analysis was used to evaluate the crystalline sizes and lattice strain by the Williamson-Hall (W-H) analysis. All other relevant physical parameters such as strain, stress, and energy density values were also calculated using W-H analysis with different models, viz, uniform deformation model, uniform deformation stress model and uniform deformation energy density model. The root mean square strain was determined from the interplanar spacing and strain estimated from the three models. The three models yield different strain values; it may be due to the anisotropic nature of the material. The mean particle size of ZnO nanoparticles estimated from TEM analysis, Scherrers formula and W-H analysis is highly intercorrelated.

Estimation of lattice strain in zno nanoparticles: x-ray peak profile analysis

Abstract: ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized from chitosan and zinc chloride by a precipitation method. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction peak profile analysis, Scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy and Photoluminescence. The X-ray diffraction results revealed that the sample was crystalline with a hexagonal wurtzite phase. We have investigated the crystallite development in ZnO nanoparticles by X-ray peak profile analysis. The Williamson–Hall analysis and size–strain plot were used to study the individual contributions of crystallite sizes and lattice strain ϵ on the peak broadening of ZnO nanoparticles. The parameters including strain, stress and energy density value were calculated for all the reflection peaks of X-ray diffraction corresponding to wurtzite hexagonal phase of ZnO lying in the range 20°–80° using the modified form of Williamson–Hall plots and size–strain plot. The results showed that the crystallite size estimated from Scherrer’s formula, Williamson–Hall plots and size–strain plot, and the particle size estimated from Transmission electron microscopy analysis are very much inter-correlated. Both methods, the X-ray diffraction and Transmission electron microscopy, provide less deviation between crystallite size and particle size in the present case.

Synthesis, structural and optical properties of pure ZnO and Co doped ZnO nanoparticles prepared by the co-precipitation method

Abstract: Pure ZnO and Cobalt (Co) doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The synthesized nanoparticles retained the wurtzite hexagonal structure, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. From FESEM studies, ZnO and Co doped ZnO NPs showed Spherical and nanorod mixed phase and Spherical like morphology, respectively. The amount of dopant (Co2+) incorporated into ZnO sample was determined by EDAX. The FT-IR spectra confirmed the Zn–O stretching bands at 438 and 427 cm−1 for ZnO and Co doped ZnO NPs. From the UV–VIS spectroscopic measurements, the excitonic pecks were found around 376 and 370 nm for the respective samples. The photoluminescence measurements revealed that the broad emission was composed of seven different bands due to zinc vacancies, oxygen vacancies and surface defects. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Zeta potential measurements were used to find out the size and surface charges.

Investigation of nitrogen plasma effect on the nonlinear optical properties of PMMA

Abstract: Effects of low power direct current nitrogen plasma on linear and nonlinear optical properties of red BS dye-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film are studied employing different optical techniques. From spectrometry data, it is shown that applying plasma in such a low range of power does not affect the linear absorption coefficient, linear refractive index, and optical bandgap of this dye-doped polymer; however, nonlinear parameters are changed. Experiments are performed using the second harmonic of a continuous Nd-Yag laser beam at a 532-nm wavelength and 20-mW power. The effect of nonlinear refractive index of red BS dye-doped PMMA film in broadening the laser beam is observed. The optical bleaching behavior is investigated by measurement of the intensity of laser beam through the sample. Its third-order nonlinearity is measured using close and open Z-scan data. Nonlinear absorption coefficient and refractive index, as well as real and imaginary parts of the third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ 3 , are changed significantly due to plasma treatment.

Improving optical absorptivity of natural dyes for fabrication of efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract: Efficient and cheap dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated using natural dyes from Pastinaca sativa and Beta vulgaris. Natural dyes are environmentally and economically superior to ruthenium-based dyes because they are nontoxic and cheap. However, the conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells based on natural dyes is low. One way to improve the DSSC performance is to enhance the absorptivity of extracted dyes. We investigated the influence of various factors in the extraction process, such as utilization of different extraction approaches, the acidity of extraction solvent, and different compounds of solvents on the optical absorption spectra. It was found that we could considerably enhance the optical absorptivity of dye and consequently the performance of DSSC by choosing a proper mixture of ethanol and water for extracting solvent and also the acidity of dye solution.