In this research, the polarization converters were manufactured by impinging intensity-gradient-distribution laser on DDLC (dye-doped liquid crystal) samples, which the gradient distributed light intensity was produced by applying linear variable ND filter. The performances of these polarization converters were demonstrated, which can convert a linear polarized incident light into a circular polarized light or an elliptic polarized light. The influence of cell gap and beam size of probe beam on the DDLC polarization converter has been discussed.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 92-93).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Foi construído um Laser de Corante em Anel bombeado por um laser de Argônio. Um sistema passivo de estabilização eletrônica permite a varredura sem saltos de modo, mas não reduz a largura de linha efetiva (40 MHz) devida a vibrações e flutuações na espessura do jato de corante. Um sistema ativo de estabilização está sendo implantado com a finalidade de reduzir a largura de linha obtida de pelo menos uma ordem de grandeza e aumentar a estabilidade em freqüência. A potência monomodo obtida com Rhodamina 6G é de 500 mW para 4W de bombeio. / An Argon pumped Ring Dye Laser was built. A passive stabilization system prevents mode hops during scans, but does not reduce the effective laser emission bandwidth (40 MHz) due to mechanical and acoustical jitter. An active stabilization system is being implemented to reduce the bandwidth to at least 4 MHz and to improve the frequency stability. The single mode output power obtained with Rhodamine 6G is about 500 mW to 4W pumping.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo e caracterizaÃÃo de corantes com flores de plantas coletadas na regiÃo Nordeste do Brasil, tais como: a Sida cordifolia (malva branca), a Catharanthus roseus (boa noite) e a Torenia fournieri (amor-perfeito-de-verÃo), Allamanda catÃrtica (alamanda da flor grande) e Cobaea scandens (sino de catedral). Foi estudado e observado a influÃncia dos flavonoides na sensibilizaÃÃo dos corantes naturais por meio de um protÃtipo de cÃlula fotovoltaica, com vidros condutores com um filme de SnO2:F produzidos por spray PirÃlise. As plantas foram submetidas a um tratamento de lavagem. Foram maceradas e imersas em um solvente extrator. ApÃs alguns dias, foram concentradas no rotaevaporador a uma velocidade 160 rpm em temperatura ambiente por 40 minutos. Este corante foi aplicado sobre uma camada de TiO2 e entÃo a cÃlula foi testada sob a luz solar. Os valores obtidos foram: Torenia fournieri, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,44 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,16 V; Catharanthus roseus, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,43 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,14 V; Sida cordifolia, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,22 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,19 V; Allamanda catÃrtica, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,19 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,12V; Cobaea scandens, corrente de curto-circuito = 0,32 mA e tensÃo de circuito aberto = 0,17V. Estes resultados podem fornecer mais dados para melhor entendimento e uso de novos corantes naturais em cÃlulas solares. / This paper presents a study and characterization of dyes with flowers of plants collected in the Northeast of Brazil, such as Sida cordifolia (malva branca), the Catharanthus roseus (boa noite), Torenia fournieri (amor-perfeito-de-verÃo), Alamanda cathartic (alamanda da flor grande) and Cobaea scandens (sino de catedral). Was studied and observed the influence of flavonoids in the sensitization of natural dyes by means of a prototype solar cell with conductive film with a glass of SnO2: F produced by spray pyrolysis. The conductive glass was obtained precursor solution (HCl/H2O) containing of tin II chloride dihydrate (SnCl2.2H2O), ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and a slide glass heated to 600 Â C. The solution was sprayed on the heated substrate. About conductive glass was deposited a layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2). The layer was obtained by dissolving in commercial TiO2 powder acetic acid (CH3CO2H) and Triton X. The electrolyte was a solution of iodine / triiodide into the intracellular regeneration cycle, the counter electrode was a layer made of graphite. The plants were treated with a by washing with deionized water, drying with heat gun and Silica Gel to absorb moisture. Were macerated and immersed in an organic solvent. After a few days, were concentrated in a rotary evaporator at a speed 160 rpm at room temperature for 40 minutes. This dye was applied on the TiO2 layer and then the cell was tested under sunlight. The values obtained were: Torenia fournieri, short-circuit current = 0.44 mA and open circuit voltage V = 0.16; Catharanthus roseus, short-circuit current = 0.43 mA = 0 and open-circuit voltage, 14 V, Sida cordifolia, short-circuit current = 0.22 mA and open circuit voltage V = 0.19; Allamanda cathartic, short-circuit current = 0.19 mA and open circuit voltage V = 0.12; Cobaea scandens, short-circuit current = 0.32 mA and open circuit voltage = 0.17 V. These results may provide more data for better understanding and use of new natural dyes in solar cells.

Neste trabalho foi estudada a degradação eletroquímica do azo corante Preto Ácido 210 (PA210) utilizando ânodos dimensionalmente estáveis de composição Ti/Ir0,10Sn0,90O2 e Ti/Ir0,30Sn0,70O2 preparados pelo método de decomposição térmica de precursores poliméricos. Os efeitos da presença e da concentração de cloreto, da composição eletródica, da densidade de corrente e do tempo de eletrólise sobre a oxidação eletroquímica de 100 ppm do corante PA210 foram avaliados. Em todas as condições estudadas, a remoção da absorbância em 465 nm (max) foi superior a 94% depois de 30 min de eletrólise. A redução de TOC foi proporcional à concentração de íons cloreto no eletrólito e não mostrou dependência da composição eletródica. A formação de espécies organocloradas variou na faixa de 8 a 16 ppm, sendo que as maiores concentrações de AOX foram obtidas para o eletrólito com maior concentração de cloreto. A redução máxima de TOC obtida foi de 25% depois de 90 min de eletrólise à densidade de corrente de 25 mA cm-2 para o eletrólito HCl 0,1 mol L-1. A eficiência de corrente foi calculada em relação ao TOC, sendo obtido o melhor resultado, de 9,14%, em 30 min de eletrólise com HCl 0,1 mol L-1 a 25 mA cm-2, sendo esta eficiência quatro vezes maior que para melhor eficiência em meio de H2SO4 0,1 mol L-1. O estudo da relação TOC / AOX indica que após as eletrólises houve a adição de cloreto as substâncias orgânicas gerando espécies organocloradas que apresentam uma relação de aproximadamente 1 átomo de cloro para cada 5 átomos de carbono. / The electrochemical degradation of the azo dye Acid Black 210 (AB210) using dimensionally stable anodes of composition Ti/Ir0,10Sn0,90O2 and Ti/Ir0,30Sn0,70O2 prepared by thermal decomposition of polymeric precursors was studied. The effects of the presence and concentration of chloride, electrode composition, current density, and electrolysis time on the electrochemical oxidation of 100 ppm dye PA210 were evaluated. In all the studied conditions, the removal of the absorbance at 465 nm (max) was greater than 94% after 30 min of electrolysis. The reduction of TOC was proportional to the concentration of chloride ions in the electrolyte and was not shown to be dependent on electrode composition. The formation of organochloride species varied in the range from 8 to 16 ppm, with higher concentrations of AOX being obtained for the electrolyte with high chloride concentration. The maximum reduction of TOC was 25% after 90 min of electrolysis, at a current density of 25 mA cm-2, for the electrolyte HCl 0.1 mol L-1. The current efficiency was calculated in relation to TOC, and the best result was 9.14% after 30 min of electrolysis in HCl 0.1 mol L-1 at 25 mA cm-2. This efficiency is four times higher than the best efficiency obtained by using only H2SO4 0.1 mol L-1 as electrolyte. The study of the TOC / AOX relationship indicates that there was addition of chloride to the organic substances after electrolysis, thus genetaring organochloride species with a ratio of about 1 atom of chlorine for every 5 carbon atoms.

This dissertation presents experimental and theoretical studies of transient degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) in organic dyes. Chapter 1 is an introduction to DFWM. Chapter 2 describes DFWM experiments that were performed in the gain medium of a dye laser. Chapter 3 presents the theory of DFWM of short pulses in three level saturable media. Chapter 4 presents DFWM experiments of femtosecond pulses in the saturable absorber of a passively modelocked ring dye laser. Chapter 5 presents the theory of DFWM of ultrashort pulses in resonant media.

Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are an attractive way to convert light into electricity. Its development requires a detailed understanding and kinetic optimization of various electronic processes, especially those occurring at the mesoporous TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface. This dissertation work is focused on the exploration of the various electronic processes at the sensitized-electrode/electrolyte interface by using various electrochemical and photochemical methods. Firstly, an alternative redox couple—TEMPO/TEMPO·+ with a relatively high positive redox potential—is explored, aiming to reduce the energy loss during the dye regeneration process. Despite the fast dye regeneration, the charge recombination between the electrons in the conduction band of mesoporous TiO2 and the oxidized redox species is found to be the limiting factor of the device. Further, a more efficient tandem-electrolyte system is developed, leading to DSSCs with the power conversion efficiency of 10.5 % and 11.7 % at 1 sun and 0.5-sun illumination, respectively. An electron-transfer cascade process during dye regeneration by the redox mediators is discovered to be beneficial. Further stability studies on the device suggest the crucial role of TiO2/dye/electrolyte interfaces in the long-term stability of cobalt bipyridyl electrolyte-based DSSCs. On the fundamental level, the local electric field and Stark effects at the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface are investigated in various aspects—including the charge compensation mechanism, the factors affecting the electric field strength, as well as its impact on charge transfer kinetics. These results give further insights about the TiO2/dye/electrolyte interface, and contribute to the further development and understanding of DSSCs.

Transparency and conductivity are highly desirable qualities in materials for modern gas sensors. Polymer gas sensors have been developed in which the polymer acts as a solid electrolyte. However, these types of sensors are opaque, which limits their potential for integration with dichromatic materials. The development of a sensor integrating conductive polymer films and dichromatic materials requires the implementation of a transparent conductive polymer film. The potential of iodine-doped bisphenol-a polycarbonate films containing bis(ethylenedioxy)-tetrathiafulvalene (BEDO-TTF) dye for sensor applications will be tested through characterization of the films at various stages of their fabrication using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), transmission Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Optical Microscopy (OM), and Four Point Probe conductivity measurements (FPP). FTIR results show that there is an interaction between the polycarbonate matrix and the dye-iodine complex. Measured resistivities of the iodine doped films range from 148 Omega-cm to 2.82 kOmega-cm depending on the concentration of the iodine and exposure time. The imaging techniques used show a significant difference in the structure and the surface of the iodine doped-PC-BEDO-TTF films with respect to the bare polycarbonate films or the films mixed with the organic dye. It is also clear that the surface roughness of the prepared conductive films increases with iodine loading. These films have the potential to be used in sensor or photovoltaic applications.

MSc (Physics) / Department of Physics / Currently the dye sensitized solar cells have attracted more attention due to their low cost, transparency and flexibility. These types of solar cells use the dye molecule adsorbed on TiO2 semiconductor in Nano architecture with the role of absorbing photons, in recent research attempts are being made to shifts the absorption spectral of TiO2 to visible and near infrared–region of solar spectrum to achieve maximum photo absorption which yields to an increase in the efficiency of the dye sensitized solar cells. In the current study, density functional theory (DFT) was used to model two croconate dyes (CR1 and CR2), one with an electron donating methyl group (CR1) and the other with an electron –withdrawing caboxyl group (CR2). The geometric, electronic and optical properties of these dyes were compared. The adsorption behaviour of the two dyes on (010 and 100) anatase TiO2 surfaces were investigated in this study by employing first principle calculation based on DFT using a plane-wave pseudo potential method. The generalized gradient approximation (GGA) was used in the scheme of Perdew-Burke Ernzerhof to describe the exchange -correlation function as implemented in the CASTEP package in Material Studio of BIOVIA. The adsorption results shows a spontaneous electron injection followed by efficient regeneration of the oxidized dye molecules by the electrolyte and strong binding ability of CR2 to the TiO2 surface, but also shows a comparable binding strength of CR1. The results of this study will help in the design of high efficient dye for DSSCs. / NRF