The metalized optical fiber tip was used to generate thermal wave instead of metal foil attached to a tube as in the case of conventional thermal wave resonance cavity (TWRC) technique. The liquid thermal diffusivity was obtained through scanning the cavity length by moving this tip with respect to pyroelectric detector in liquid media, in a thermally thick region. Three-dimensional treatment of the metalized fiber tip was reduced to one-dimensional treatment using diameter of thermal wave generator relatively bigger than that of laser spot size. This applicability can be seen in two diameter size of optical fiber where the thermal diffusivity value of water obtained by this technique agrees with the values obtained by the conventional TWRC technique. This technique has a potential to be used in measuring thermal diffusivity of small liquid volume.

Two different concentrations of CdCl2 and (NH2)2CS were used to prepare CdS thin films, to be deposited on glass substrate by chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. CdCl2 (0.000312 M and 0.000625 M) was employed as a source of Cd2+ while (NH2)2CS (0.00125 M and 0.000625 M) for S2− at a constant bath temperature of 70 °C. Adhesion of the deposited films was found to be very good for all the solution concentrations of both reagents. The films were air-annealed at a temperature between 200 °C to 360 °C for one hour. The minimum thickness was observed to be 33.6 nm for film annealed at 320 °C. XRD analyses reveal that the films were cubic along with peaks of hexagonal phase for all film samples. The crystallite size of the films decreased from 41.4 nm to 7.4 nm with the increase of annealing temperature for the CdCl2 (0.000312 M). Optical energy band gap (Eg), Urbach energy (Eu) and absorption coefficient (α) have been calculated from the transmission spectral data. These parameters have been discussed as a function of annealing temperature and solution concentration. The best transmission (about 97%) was obtained for the air-annealed films at higher temperature at CdCl2 (0.000312 M).

The pulsed laser thermal lens technique was used to study the thermal diffusivity of fluids containing copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) prepared by γ-irradiation method. The samples were prepared for the different concentrations of Cu precursor at 20.KGy dose. A Q-switched Nd-YAG pulsed laser of wavelength 532.nm was used as an excitation source and He-Ne laser was used as a probe beam in the present thermal lens experiment. It was found that the thermal diffusivity of the solution depends on the density of Cu-NPs.

The thermal lens technique was utilized in silver nanofluid containing silver nanoparticles in polyvinylpyrrolidone solution to study the effect of nanoparticle size on thermal diffusivity. The different sizes of silver nanoparticles were prepared by irradiating the solution of silver nitrate in polyvinylpyrrolidone with respective dose of γ-radiation. The average sizes of particle in the prepared samples were measured using nanophox machine. The thermal lens measurement was carried out by using a diode laser of wavelength 514 nm and a He–Ne laser for the excitation source and the probe beam, respectively. The obtained result showed a decrease in the thermal diffusivity of nanofluid with the decrease in particle size.

Thin and transparent films of doped cadmium sulfide (CdS) were obtained on commercial glass substrates by Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique. The films were doped with low concentration of Sn, and annealed in air at 300 °C for 45 min. The morphological characterization of the films with different amounts of dopant was made using SEM and EDAX analysis. Optical properties of the films were evaluated by measuring transmittance using the UV-vis spectrophotometer. A comparison of the results revealed that lower concentration of Sn doping improves transmittance of CdS films and makes them suitable for application as window layer of CdTe/CIGS solar cells.

Problem statement: The stresses to humidity, DC and AC bias, multiple impulse voltages and high temperatures are known to affect the varistor performance and it is also interesting to know the effect of both DC bias and temperature stresses at the same time. Approach: Here, the simultaneous DC and temperature stresses degradation was investigated to see the changes of nonlinear coefficient (α) in Zn-Bi-Ti oxide low-voltage varistor ceramics sintered at various sintering temperatures (1140-1260°C) and two sintering duration times of 45 and 90 min. The current-voltage characteristics of the varistor ceramics were evaluated. Results: The α of ceramic was observed to be decreased with increasing sintering temperature. After loaded with DC and temperature stresses of 0.75V_1mA/80°C/12 h, the α of ceramics for 90 min sintering time decreases with sintering temperature, however that sintered for 45 min sintering time increase with sintering time. Conclusion: The application of DC and temperature stresses in Zn-Bi-Ti oxide ceramics sintered at very long time cause the α to decrease as evidence from higher leakage current

Laser ablation-based nanoparticle synthesis in solution is rapidly becoming popular, particularly for potential biomedical and life science applications. This method promises one pot synthesis and concomitant bio-functionalization, is devoid of toxic chemicals, does not require complicated apparatus, can be combined with natural stabilizers, is directly biocompatible, and has high particle size uniformity. Size control and reduction is generally determined by the laser settings; that the size and size distribution scales with laser fluence is well described. Conversely, the effect of the laser repetition rate on the final nanoparticle product in laser ablation is less well-documented, especially in the presence of stabilizers. Here, the influence of the laser repetition rate during laser ablation synthesis of silver nanoparticles in the presence of starch as a stabilizer was investigated. The increment of the repetition rate does not negatively influence the ablation efficiency, but rather shows increased productivity, causes a red-shift in the plasmon resonance peak of the silver-starch nanoparticles, an increase in mean particle size and size distribution, and a distinct lack of agglomerate formation. Optimal results were achieved at 10 Hz repetition rate, with a mean particle size of ∼10 nm and a bandwidth of ∼6 nm 'full width at half maximum' (FWHM). Stability measurements showed no significant changes in mean particle size or agglomeration or even flocculation. However, zeta potential measurements showed that optimal double layer charge is achieved at 30 Hz. Consequently, Ag-NP synthesis via the laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS) method in starch solution seems to be a trade-off between small size and narrow size distributions and inherent and long-term stability.

Photopyroelectric (PPE) spectroscopy is a nondestructive tool that is used to study the optical properties of the ceramics (ZnO + 0.4MnO2 + 0.4Co3O4 + xV2O5), x = 0–1 mol%. Wavelength of incident light, modulated at 10 Hz, was in the range of 300–800 nm. PPE spectrum with reference to the doping level and sintering temperature is discussed. Optical energy band-gap (Eg) was 2.11 eV for 0.3 mol% V2O5 at a sintering temperature of 1025 °C as determined from the plot (ρhυ)2 versus hυ. With a further increase in V2O5, the value of Eg was found to be 2.59 eV. Steepness factor ‘σA’ and ‘σB’, which characterize the slope of exponential optical absorption, is discussed with reference to the variation of Eg. XRD, SEM and EDAX are also used for characterization of the ceramic. For this ceramic, the maximum relative density and grain size was observed to be 91.8% and 9.5 μm, respectively.