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Bismuth selenide belongs to a class of topological insulators---materials characterized by a intriguing electronic band structure, with a characteristic Dirac conical band on the surface. In this master thesis, the optical response of this material is explored in the infrared spectral range and in a broad range of magnetic fields. We mainly focus on the absorption of light due to free charge carriers having, when the magnetic field is applied, a form of cyclotron resonance. We find that the experimentally observed response is consistent with expectations for massive electrons in bulk rather than massless particles on the surface.

This work describes an experimental investigation of methods of synthesis, determination of structural and physical properties, and analysis and correlation of the properties to the structures of semiconductor quantum dots and quantum dot-polymer hybrid structures. These structures are investigated for applications in flexible solar cell devices. The main synthesis process used in the work was a Laser-Assisted Spray (LAS) process that was developed in our laboratory to deposit surfactant-free PbSe quantum dot (QD) films directly on a substrate. The QD films formed by this technique are in close contact with each other forming a percolation path for charge transport. Analytical instruments that include Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used for structural characterization while optical absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence were used for determining the quantum confinement of charge carriers in PbSe QDs. In addition, charge transport across lithographically patterned paths was used to determine the transport characteristics and generation of photocurrent in the fabricated structures. Absorption spectroscopy confirmed the quantum confinement of PbSe QDs deposited by LAS deposition. Room temperature current-voltage measurements across a 2 micrometer tunnel junction formed by the QDs produced a power-law dependence of the form I ∝ V2.19 that describes a percolation path of dimensionality slightly above two-dimensional. Absence of surfactants in LAS deposited films improved the conductivity by more than three orders of magnitude. Temperature dependent conductance studies showed thermally activated transport at high temperatures and temperature independent tunneling followed by previously unobserved metallic conduction at low temperatures. The LAS system was successfully modified by incorporating two spray nozzles to transport aerosols of two different precursors, one containing the QDs and the other containing the polymer. This new co-deposition system was successfully used to deposit QDs/Polymer hybrid structures. The TEM and XRD studies of LAS co-deposited films were shown to be uniformly distributed and crystalline. The photo-current experiments of QD/polymer hybrid composites showed clear evidence of enhanced carrier generation and transport as a result of intimate contact between quantum dots (QDs).

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<p>In this thesis we present a ⁷⁷Se NMR study of the iron selenide based high-temperature superconductor K_xFe_2−ySe₂ (T_c = 33 K). We observe NMR lineshapes as narrow as ∼ 4.5 kHz with an applied field along the crystal c-axis, and find no evidence for the co-existence of magnetic order with superconductivity. With an applied field along the ab plane, however, the lineshape splits into two peaks of equal intensities at all temperatures, suggesting that the tetragonal fourfold symmetry of the average structure may be locally lowered by vacancy superstructure. Knight shift data indicate that spin susceptibility decreases progressively with temperature, similar to other iron arsenide high-T_c systems. In the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T₁ we observe no Hebel-Slichter coherence peak, nor any enhancement in low frequency antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations in 1/T₁T. We also report on the effects of sulphur (S) substitution on the selenium sites in this system by conducting ⁷⁷Se NMR measurements on K_xFe_2−ySe_2−zS_z (z = 0.8, 1.6). We find that both spin susceptibility and low frequency spin fluctuations are suppressed with increasing S content along with T_c.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

BACKGROUND:In a globalized word, prevention of infectious diseases is a major challenge. Rapid detection of viable virus particles in water and other environmental samples is essential to public health risk assessment, homeland security and environmental protection. Current virus detection methods, especially assessing viral infectivity, are complex and time-consuming, making point-of-care detection a challenge. Faster, more sensitive, highly specific methods are needed to quantify potentially hazardous viral pathogens and to determine if suspected materials contain viable viral particles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with cellular-based sensing, may offer a precise way to detect specific viruses. This approach utilizes infrared light to monitor changes in molecular components of cells by tracking changes in absorbance patterns produced following virus infection. In this work poliovirus (PV1) was used to evaluate the utility of FTIR spectroscopy with cell culture for rapid detection of infective virus particles.RESULTS:Buffalo green monkey kidney (BGMK) cells infected with different virus titers were studied at 1 - 12 hours post-infection (h.p.i.). A partial least squares (PLS) regression method was used to analyze and model cellular responses to different infection titers and times post-infection. The model performs best at 8 h.p.i., resulting in an estimated root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) of 17 plaque forming units (PFU)/ml when using low titers of infection of 10 and 100 PFU/ml. Higher titers, from 103 to 106 PFU/ml, could also be reliably detected.CONCLUSIONS:This approach to poliovirus detection and quantification using FTIR spectroscopy and cell culture could potentially be extended to compare biochemical cell responses to infection with different viruses. This virus detection method could feasibly be adapted to an automated scheme for use in areas such as water safety monitoring and medical diagnostics.

M. Tech. (Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied and Computer Science): Vaal University of Technology / Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of silver (Ag) and silver selenide (Ag2Se) nanoparticles using the metal-organic route method. This method involves the reduction of selenium powder and silver nitrate in the presence of trioctylphosphine as a solvent. Tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and hexadecylamine (HDA) were used in the study as capping molecules. The optical properties of the as-prepared nanoparticles were studied using UV-Visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) were used to study the structural properties. The effect of capping molecules and temperature were investigated on the growth of the nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles seem to depend on the reaction temperature were the increase in temperature led to an increase in particle sizes. The growth of the as-prepared TOPO-capped Ag2Se nanoparticles was influenced by temperature, this was evident when the temperature was increased, the nanoparticles evolved from sphere to hexagonal shape. TOPO-capped nanoparticles showed the tendency of agglomeration with increase in temperature compared to HDA-capped nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction results showed peaks which were identified as due to α-Ag2Se body centered cubic compound for both TOPO/HDA-capped Ag2Se nanoparticles. Some evidence of impurities were observed in the XRD analysis and indexed to metallic silver. HDA-capped Ag nanoparticles were found to be affected by temperature variation. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized with UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. XRD analysis was not performed due to small yield obtained. The absorption spectra of HDA-capped Ag nanoparticles at different temperatures show a surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) band in the regions 418 - 428 nm. Uniform spherical shapes were obtained for both 130 and 190 °C and fewer particles were obtained at 160 °C. The synthesis of TOPO–capped Ag nanoparticles was unsuccessful since none of the particles were isolated from the solution due to its lower capping ability or it may be that TOPO is binding too strongly to Ag. The polymer nanofibres were electrospun using electrospinning technique. Parameters such as concentration and voltage were investigated. These parameters significantly affect the formation of fibre morphology. PVP and PMMA polymers were used for this study. The electrospun composite fibres were characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transformer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The SEM results show that increasing the polymer concentration resulted in increased fibre diameters. Hence increasing the voltage decreases the fibre diameters. Ag2Se nanoparticles were incorporated into PVP and PMMA and electrospun using electrospinning to produce composite fibres. Their addition into PVP polymer fibres improved the fibre’s uniformity and further decreased their diameters. The SEM of composite fibres for PMMA is not shown. The absorption bands for PVP composites fibres show a blue shift from the pure Ag2Se nanoparticles, whereas the one for PMMA show a red shift from the pure Ag2Se nanoparticles. Both the composite fibres for PVP and PMMA show a blue shift from the bulk of Ag2Se. The XRD analysis of the composite fibres shows no significant effect upon addition of Ag2Se nanoparticles on the amorphous peak of the PVP polymer, whereas on the PMMA, it shows peaks which were due to the face centered cubic phase of Ag. The FTIR spectra of the composite fibres and pure polymers (PVP and PMMA) gave almost identical features. TGA curves show no significant effect on the thermal properties of the PVP polymer and its composites, however, on the PMMA composite fibres it show an increase in the thermal stability of the polymers upon addition of Ag2Se nanoparticles. The study was based on silver nanoparicles and its antibacterial activities. One of the synthetic challenges for silver nanoparticles is their solubility and yield. Selenide was introduced in the study to improve such shortcomings of silver nanoparticles and also for possible improved properties, chemical stability and increased activity against bacteria. The selenide group on the metal also provides stronger chemical interaction between the nanoparticles and the polymer. Therefore, the intension was to use these nanoparticles into polymer fibres for potential use in wound dressing.

We have performed fluorescence extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements on the Cd K-edge of partial electrolyte (PE) treated Cu(In[subscript 0.7]Ga[subscript 0.3])Se��� (CIGS) thin film samples using synchrotron X-ray radiation. This data was compared to the EXAFS spectra of CdSe and CdO standards. Cd local structure models were constructed and used for the least square analysis of the spectra. The first model employed implantation of a cadmium atom and a single oxygen atom into the CIGS lattice. Specifically, an oxygen atom was introduced in the tetrahedral bonded Cd-Se local structure. Employing FEFF8 with WinXAS software package, experimental data was theoretically fitted to the first shell single-scattering paths of the Cd atom in the (PE) treated Cu(In[subscript 0.7]Ga[subscript 0.3])Se��� thin film samples. The main peak observed in the data represents the Cd-Se bonds and the shoulder corresponds to the Cd-O bond. However, the number of total nearest neighbors is not consistent with this model. A two-phase model that includes both Cd-Se tetrahedron and Cd-O octahedron were then reconstructed. Again, a least-agrees very well with the experimental data, and the total first nearest neighbor number is consistent with the two phase model at NN=4.2. This study indicates the surface of Cd partial electrolyte treated Cu(In[subscript 0.7]Ga[subscript 0.3])Se��� thin films contains both CdSe and CdO. / Graduation date: 2004

Ternary chalcopyrite compounds are the semiconductors with suitable properties to be used as absorber materials in thin film solar cells. AgInSe2 is a promising candidate with its several advantages over the widely used CuInSe2. The purpose of this study was to optimize the physical properties of the Ag-In-Se (AIS) thin films that were deposited by e-beam evaporation of Ag3In5Se9 single crystal powder for solar cell applications by means of post-annealing process under nitrogen atmosphere. The as-grown AIS thin films were annealed at 200, 300 and 400oC and their structural, optical, electrical and photoelectrical properties were examined to observe the effects of post-annealing process. Structural characterization of the films was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses. Optical properties of the films were investigated by optical transmittance measurements. Electrical and photoelectrical properties of the films were examined by temperature dependent conductivity, photoconductivity under different illumination intensities and spectral photoresponse measurements. It was discovered that the annealing of AIS thin films at 200oC resulted in the best physical properties for solar cell applications. The obtained films were polycrystalline with mixed binary and ternary crystalline phases, such as Ag3In5Se9, AgInSe2 and InSe, and showed n-type conductivity with room temperature conductivity value of 2.3x10-6 (Ohm&shy / cm)-1. The band gap energy of the 200oC-annealed films was determined as 1.68 eV from spectral photoresponse measurements. The results of the study revealed that the inadequate Ag incorporation and segregation and/or reevaporation of Se atoms at high annealing temperatures were the major problems encountered in producing single phase polycrystalline AgInSe2 thin films. The required stoichiometry of thin films should be maintained during the growth of the films by means of an alternative deposition procedure and the films should be selenized during post-annealing process.

Hauptziel dieser Arbeit ist die Synthese und Charakterisierung neuer Organosilicium-Chalcogen-Verbindungen (Chalcogen: Schwefel, Selen, Tellur), sowohl mit acyclischen, als auch mono- und polycyclischen Strukturen. Dabei konnten in vielen Fällen auch isostrukturelle Verbindungen mit Germanium- oder Zinnatomen anstelle von Silicium aufgebaut werden. Insgesamt wurden 42 der dargestellten Verbindungen auch durch Röntgenkristallstrukturanalysen charakterisiert. In cyclischen und polycyclischen Verbindungen war es damit auch möglich, die auftretenden Konformationen der Ringe- bzw. Ringsysteme zu bestimmen und die Resultate mit den Ergebnissen von DFT-Berechnungen zu vergleichen. Die NMR-Spektroskopie war parallel zu Kristallstrukturanalysen und GC/MS Messungen die Methode der Wahl zur Charakterisierung der dargestellten Verbindungen. Dabei boten sich neben der 1H und 13C NMR auch die 29Si, 119Sn, 207Pb, 77Se, und 125Te NMR Spektroskopie an, da man direkt die Elemente analysiert, die die Ringsysteme aufbauen, was zu einer weit höheren Strukturempfindlichkeit führt. Vor allem beim Vergleich von 77Se und 125Te NMR Daten analoger Selen- und Tellurverbindungen ergaben sich lineare Korrelationen sowohl der chemischen Verschiebungen als auch der Kopplungskonstanten 1JSiE bzw. 1JSnE mit Faktoren von ca. 2.5. Ähnliche Korrelationen konnten auch zwischen 29Si und 119Sn bzw. 119Sn und 207Pb NMR chemischen Verschiebungen gezogen werden. Von einigen Verbindungen konnten durch 29Si MAS NMR Spektroskopie auch die Tensorhauptwerte der chemischen Verschiebung ermittelt werden. Parallel dazu wurden mittels GIAO und IGLO Verfahren die 29Si NMR chemischen Verschiebungen ausgehend von den aus den Kristallstrukturanalysen zugänglichen Geometrien berechnet. Neben cyclischen Verbindungen konnten unter Verwendung des sperrigen Hypersilylrestes auch eine Reihe acyclischer Verbindungen mit der Sequenz Si–E–Si bzw. Si–E–Sn dargestellt und z. T. auch strukturell charakterisiert werden.