Dielectric properties assessment of honey by using non-destructive dielectric spectroscopy

<p>In this research the dielectric constant of three types of Malaysian honey has been investigated using a non-destructive measurement technique. The objective of this research is to assess the dielectric constant of the three types of honey in Malaysia using a non-destructive measurement technique known as an open-ended coaxial probe in the frequency range from 100 MHz to 10 GHz frequency. Analysis on the effect water concentration in honey on the dielectric constant and the effect of temperature on dielectric constant of honey has been conducted. The three types of honey that have been chosen to be investigated in this project are stingless bee honey, wild honey and commercial (organic) honey and together their water adulterated samples. For this research, the probe had been set up by setting a range of frequency from 100 MHz to 10 GHz and needs to be calibrated with three calibration methods namely open, short and reference water. From the result it was found that the higher the temperature of the honey and the higher percentage of water content in the honey, the dielectric constant is increased. The dielectric constants of all honeys decreased with increasing frequency in the measured frequency range and increased with increase percentage of water content and temperature.</p>

Cross-Scale Synthesis of Organic High-k Semiconductors Based on Spiro-Gridized Nanopolymers

High dielectric constants in organic semiconductors have been identified as a central challenge for the improvement in not only piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric effects but also photoelectric conversion efficiency in OPVs, carrier mobility in OFETs, and charge density in charge-trapping memories. Herein, we report an ultralong persistence length (lp≈41 nm) effect of spiro-fused organic nanopolymers on dielectric properties, together with excitonic and charge carrier behaviors. The state-of-the-art nanopolymers, namely, nanopolyspirogrids (NPSGs), are synthesized via the simple cross-scale Friedel-Crafts polygridization of A2B2-type nanomonomers. The high dielectric constant (k=8.43) of NPSG is firstly achieved by locking spiro-polygridization effect that results in the enhancement of dipole polarization. When doping into a polystyrene-based dielectric layer, such a high-k feature of NPSG increases the field-effect carrier mobility from 0.20 to 0.90 cm2 V-1 s-1 in pentacene OFET devices. Meanwhile, amorphous NPSG film exhibits an ultralow energy disorder (<50 meV) for an excellent zero-field hole mobility of 3.94×10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1, surpassing most of the amorphous π-conjugated polymers. Organic nanopolymers with high dielectric constants open a new way to break through the bottleneck of efficiency and multifunctionality in the blueprint of the fourth-generation semiconductors.

Band gap tuning and p to n-type transition in Mn-doped CuO nanostructured thin films

Here we discuss the synthesis of copper (II) oxide (CuO) and manganese (Mn)-doped CuO thin films varying with 0 to 8 at% Mn using the spray pyrolysis technique. As-deposited film surfaces comprised of agglomerated spherical nanoparticles and a semi-spongy porous structure for 4 at% Mn doping. Energy dispersive analysis of X-rays confirmed the chemical composition of the films. X-ray diffraction spectra showed a polycrystalline monoclinic structure with the predominance of the ( 11) peak. Optical band gap energy for direct and indirect transitions was estimated in the ranges from 2.67–2.90 eV and 0.11–1.73 eV, respectively. Refractive index and static dielectric constants were computed from the optical spectra. Electrical resistivity of CuO and Mn-doped CuO (Mn:CuO) thin films was found in the range from 10.5 to 28.6 Ω·cm. The tiniest electron effective mass was calculated for 4 at% Mn:CuO thin films. P to n-type transition was observed for 4 at% Mn doping in CuO films. Carrier concentration and mobility were found in the orders of 1017 cm–3 and 10–1 cm2/(V·s), respectively. The Hall coefficient was found to be between 9.9 and 29.8 cm3/C. The above results suggest the suitability of Mn:CuO thin films in optoelectronic applications.

Диэлектрические и оптические свойства кубических монокристаллов SiC, GeC и SnC: модельные оценки

Within the scope of the Harrison’s bond orbital model analytical expressions of the high- and low-frequency dielectric susceptibilities and dielectric constants, linear electrooptical coefficient, photoelastic constants and pressure dependences of the dielectric constants are obtained for the cubic carbides of the group IV elements.

Recognition of kinetic transient process in corrosion scales of fuel elements by impedance spectroscopy

The presented study concerns with the corrosion kinetics of two zirconium alloys: Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe and Zr-Nb-Fe. Alloy samples were pre-exposed at 360 °C in a LiOH solution containing 70 mg/l of lithium ions. Ex-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) performed in 0.5 M potassium sulphate solution at 25 °C was used to study the properties of the oxide and kinetic transient effect. Evaluation of the impedance spectroscopy data was based on application of a simple equivalent circuit. The setup of the equivalent circuit conformed to Jonscher´s universal law of dielectric response. The analysis of the impedance data was aimed at estimation of non-dispersive capacitance of the oxide formed during the pre-exposure. Effective values of dielectric constant were calculated using the non-dispersive capacitance and the oxide thickness values, calculated from weight gains. For the pre-transient samples relatively higher values of dielectric constants were obtained. Typical pre-transient dielectric constants for Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe alloy ranged between 20–21, while slightly lower values were obtained for Zr-Nb-Fe alloy. In both alloys steep and significant decrease in effective dielectric constant (e_ef = 9–13) was found for the transient samples. The decrease correlated very well with the drop in percentage of tetragonal oxide determined by Raman spectroscopy and corresponded to the increase of the weight gains of the transient samples. Literature data indicate values of dielectric constants for tetragonal zirconium oxide between 38–46, while those for monoclinic oxide are usually presented between 12–22. The evidenced changes in dielectric constants are therefore in agreement with the expected decrease of tetragonal phase fraction in the oxide layer during the transient. In the Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe post-transient samples values of dielectric constant increased again to 18–20, therefore almost to the pre-transient level. This increase was not evidenced with Raman spectroscopy data, which show constant low content of the tetragonal fraction. Possible explanation of this disagreement is the location of the newly formed post-transient tetragonal oxide presumably at the metal/oxide interface. Oxide thickness of the post-transi-ent samples is 4–7 m and the oxide/metal interface is beyond access of the laser beam of Raman spectrometer. We can conclude that using ex-situ EIS, the transient was observable in both alloys; the change in the ratio of monoclinic and tetragonal phase can be evaluated based on the difference of effective dielectric constant of the two phases. The Zr-Nb-Sn-Fe alloy showed the onset of the transient after the 105th day of pre-exposure, but the change in the ratio of the monoclinic and tetragonal phases was less significant than in the Zr-Nb-Fe alloy, in which, however, the transient could be observed only after 147 days of pre-exposure. The resulting values of the effective dielectric constant of oxides correlated well with the percentage of tetragonal oxide determined by Raman spectroscopy and with the results of the weight gain method.

Millimeter-wave band subsurface sounding module

Radio-wave devices are used for many environmental and material research tasks. These devices and the development of relatively simple and affordable quasi-optic radio wave receivers and transmitters of millimeter and terahertz bands are important for numerous applications. Results of the design of a terahertz-band quasioptical transmitter-receiver module are presented. The module is intended for the remote detection of various objects and for measuring the depolarized field components backscattered by various long objects hidden behind obstacles (building materials and/or everyday items that prevent visual contact with the objects). These may be interfaces between materials with different dielectric constants, fiber optic cables, electric cables, and otherobjects. Results of full-scale experimental testing of the module on the detection of electric cables buried under plater in the wall of a building are presented.

Dielectric Constant, Metallization Criterion and Optical Properties of CuO Doped TeO2-B2O3 Glasses

Copper oxide doped TeO2 – B2O3 glass system with empirical formula; [(B2O3)0.3(TeO2)0.7]1-x(CuO)x using the melt quenching method, where x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, and 0.025 was combined. The glass samples’ density and molar volume were measured, followed by characterizations using the UV-Vis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopes. The amorphous or glassy nature of glass samples was proven by the XRD spectra except for the pure borotellurite sample which showed a peak around 2θ = 20o, indicating α-TeO2 crystalline phase presence. The FTIR spectral analysis suggested the presence of BO3, TeO3 and TeO4 as the structural functional units in the glass samples. The UV-Vis spectra showed no presence of any sharply defined edges, affirming the amorphous or glassy nature of the glass materials. Physical parameters e.g. molar volume, density, oxygen packing density (OPD), inter ionic distance of Cu2+ ions, concentration of copper ion per unit volume (N), as well as the polaron radius data were presented and discussed. Also, the direct bandgap (3.8900 to 3.5900 eV) , indirect bandgap (3.3200 to 3.0800 eV), refractive index (2.318 to 2.378), dielectric constant (5.3731 to 5.6549), optical dielectric constant (4.3731 to 4.6549), refractive index based metallization criterion (0.406885 to 0.391916) and the band gap based metallization criterion (0.407431 to 0.392428) were analysed and discussed. Based on the metallization criterion and values of refractive index, the glasses are good candidates for optoelectronic and laser applications. Meanwhile, the dielectric constants’ values of the present glasses indicate their suitability bandpass filters and microelectronic substrates applications.

First-principles study of the impact of chemical doping and functional groups on the absorption spectra of graphene

The rational design of the electronic band structures and the associated properties (e.g., optical) of advanced materials has remained challenging for crucial applications in optoelectronics, solar desalination, advanced manufacturing technologies, etc. In this work, using first-principles calculations, we studied the prospects of tuning the absorption spectra of graphene via defect engineering, i.e., chemical doping and oxidation. Our computational analysis shows that graphene functionalization with single hydroxyl and carboxylic acid fails to open a band gap in graphene. While single epoxide functionalization successfully opens a bandgap in graphene and increases absorptivity, however, other optical properties such as reflection, transmission, and dielectric constants are significantly altered. Boron and nitrogen dopants lead to p- and n-type doping, respectively, while fluorine dopants or a single-carbon atomic vacancy cannot create a significant bandgap in graphene. By rigorously considering the spin-polarization effect, we find that titanium, zirconium, and hafnium dopants can create a bandgap in graphene via an induced flat band around the Fermi level as well as the collapse of the Dirac cone. In addition, silicon, germanium, and tin dopants are also effective in improving the optical characteristics. Our work is important for future experimental work on graphene for laser and optical processing applications.

Measurement of Dielectric and Magnetic Constants of Ferrofluid-Doped Sol-Gels by a Resonant Cavity Method

Materials with specific electromagnetic properties are increasingly used for the realization of passive components. Therefore, electromagnetic characterization is a priority to know these materials properties. This study focuses on the electromagnetic characterization of 10 nm maghemite ferrofluid doped sol-gel using a resonant cavity method. We deposited the sol-gel by dipping/removal on an alumina substrate in order to make measurements on the cavity to determine the complex permittivity and permeability. Two studies were carried out; the first consisted in varying the doped sol-gel thickness of layers of the same concentration in the realization of samples; and the second consisted in varying the volume concentration of ferrofluid according to the matrix dimensions. The first study showed that the dielectric constants do not vary with the thickness of the magnetic sol-gel layers. In the second study, measurements also showed that the gyromagnetic resonance is the same for all samples regardless of the ferrofluid volume concentration.

Synthesis and Spectral Characterisation of (E)-3-(3-(4 (Dimethylamino)Phenyl)Acrylo-yl)-4-Hydroxy-2H-Chromen-2-One and Their Antibacterial Activity and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition

A new coumarin derivative, (E)-3-(3-(4-(dimethylamino) phenyl) acrylo-yl)-4-hydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one (3), was synthesized by the condensation of 3-acetyl-4-hydroxycoumarin (1) with 4-N,N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (2) in the presence of piperidine in ethanol. The structure of the synthesized compound was characterized using spectroscopic data (IR and 1H NMR) and elemental analysis. The antimicrobial properties and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity (AChEI) of coumarin 3 were investigated, with the highest observed AChEI activity providing 48.25% inhibition. The electronic absorption and emission spectra revealed that 3 exists as two, main keto-enol tautomers. The ratios of these tautomers in both protic and aprotic solvents with different polarities and dielectric constants were calculated. The fluorescence of coumarin 3 was enhanced upon increasing the medium viscosity, which was due to the resultant molecular rigidity. This criterion was further investigated using DNA, whereby 3 showed enhanced fluorescence upon its uptake in DNA grooves and was therefore tested as a novel DNA fluorescent stain.