Anushree Roy

Optical properties of nanocrystalline Y2O3:Eu3+

Optical properties of nanocrystalline red-emitting phosphor, europium-doped yttria (Y2O3:Eu3+), of average particle size of 15nm are investigated. The intensity of the strongest emission line at 612nm is found to be highest in the nanocrystalline sample with 4at.wt% of europium. The narrow electronic emission spectrum suggests a crystalline surrounding in this nanomaterial. We have estimated the strength of the crystal-field parameter at the dopant site, which plays a crucial role in determining the appearance of the intense emission line. The equilibrium temperature of this system has also been calculated from the intensity ratio of Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman scattering. Though known for the bulk samples, our approach and consequent results on the crystalline nanomaterial of Y2O3:Eu3+ provide a unique report, which, we believe, can be of considerable significance in nanotechnology.

Quantitative analysis of hydrogenated diamondlike carbon films by visible Raman spectroscopy

The correlations between properties of hydrogenated diamondlike carbon films and their Raman spectra have been investigated. The films are prepared by plasma deposition technique, keeping different hydrogen to methane ratios during the growth process. The hydrogen concentration, sp3 content, hardness, and optical Tauc gap of the materials have been estimated from a detailed analysis of their Raman spectra. We have also measured the same parameters of the films by using other commonly used techniques, such as sp3 content in films by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, their Tauc gap by ellipsometric measurements, and hardness by microhardness testing. The reasons for the mismatch between the characteristics of the films, as obtained by Raman measurements and by the above mentioned techniques, have been discussed. We emphasize on the importance of the visible Raman spectroscopy in reliably predicting the above key properties of diamondlike carbon films.

Evidence of conformational changes in adsorbed lysozyme molecule on silver colloids

In this article, we discuss metal-protein interactions in the Ag-lysozyme complex by spectroscopic measurements. The analysis of the variation in relative intensities of SERS bands reveals the orientation and the change in conformation of the protein molecules on the Ag surface with time. The interaction kinetics of metal-protein complexes has been analyzed over a period of 3h via Raman measurements. Our analysis indicates that the Ag nanoparticles most likely interact with Trp123 which is in close proximity to Phe34 of the lysozyme molecule.

Fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme triggers reduction of copper(II)

Copper is known to exert diverse effects on the self-association of proteins and has been found in amyloid deposits that are involved in neurodegenerative disease processes. The effects of the metal ion on the protein during fibrillation were investigated by fluorescence, circular dichroism spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. We report for the first time, the complete reduction of Cu(II)→Cu(I) in vitro during fibrillation of hen egg white lysozyme at pH 7. This was confirmed by the lack of any signal for Cu(II) in electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and quantification of Cu(I) was achieved by a bathocuproine disulfonate based assay.

Raman sensitivity to crystal structure in InAs nanowires

We report electron transmission and Raman spectroscopy study of InAs nanowires. We demonstrate that the temperature dependent behavior of optical phonon energies can be used to determine the relative wurtzite fraction in the InAs nanowires. Furthermore, we propose that the interfacial strain between zincblende and wurtzite phases along the length of the wires manifests in the temperature-evolution of the phonon linewidths. From these studies, temperature-dependent Raman measurements emerge as a non-invasive method to study polytypism in such nanowires.We report electron transmission and Raman spectroscopy study of InAs nanowires. We demonstrate that the temperature dependent behavior of optical phonon energies can be used to determine the relative wurtzite fraction in the InAs nanowires. Furthermore, we propose that the interfacial strain between zincblende and wurtzite phases along the length of the wires manifests in the temperature-evolution of the phonon linewidths. From these studies, temperature-dependent Raman measurements emerge as a non-invasive method to study polytypism in such nanowires.

Role of lone-pair electrons in reversible photostructural changes in amorphous chalcogenides

Abstract Results of in-situ X-ray absorption fine structure and Raman scattering measurements of photostructural change in amorphous selenium and binary As 2 Se 3 glass are reported. It is demonstrated that in the photoexcited state the coordination number of selenium species increases reversibly. This increase is caused by the formation of dynamic interchain (interlayer) bonds via interaction of excited electrons of lone-pair orbitals whose presence is essential for the process to occur. After subsequent bond breaking a transition to a metastable state takes place.

Optical emission spectra of chromium doped nanocrystalline zinc gallate

Optical emission spectra of nanocrystalline zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) and trivalent chromium ion doped zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4:Cr3+) are reported for different concentrations of the dopant ion. The measurements have been carried out over the temperature range between 77 and 296 K. The emission spectrum of nanocrystalline ZnGa2O4 shows two broad peaks. The intensity variation in these peaks, with temperature, is indicative of the effect of symmetry breaking in the electronic band structure of ZnGa2O4 in nanocrystalline samples. In addition, we find that the relative intensities of the sharp spectral lines of Cr3+ in nanocrystalline ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ are quite different from those reported for corresponding bulk samples. The spectral profiles of the so-called R1, R2, N1, and N2 lines have also been studied. The data are analyzed using crystal field theory, which includes an exchange interaction between the nearest neighbor Cr3+ pairs in ZnGa2O4. We estimate the exchange parameters for Cr3+ in nanocrystalline ZnGa2O4:...

Electron and phonon confinement and surface phonon modes in CdSe?CdS core?shell nanocrystals

The optical and vibrational properties of bare and CdS shelled CdSe nanocrystalline particles are investigated. To confirm the formation of such nanocrystals in our samples we estimate their average particle sizes and size distributions using TEM measurements. From the line profile analysis of the HRTEM images the core-shell structure in the particles has been confirmed. The blue shift in the optical absorption spectra, analysed using theoretical estimates based on the effective bond order model, establishes the electron confinement in the nanoparticles. The main aim of this paper is to show the unique characteristics of the nanocrystals (which are absent in the corresponding bulk material), such as confinement of optical phonons and the appearance of surface phonons. Making use of the dielectric continuum model we are able to match the experimental and theoretical values of the frequencies of the surface phonons. We believe that our studies using optical probes provide further evidence for the existence of core-shell structures in CdSe-CdS type materials.

A nanometer scale mechanism for the reversible photostructural change in amorphous chalcogenides

Abstract The results of in situ extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and Raman scattering studies of reversible photostructural change in amorphous selenium and As2Se3 are reported. The EXAFS results provide evidence for the dynamical formation of interchain (interlayer) Se–Se bonds in the photoexcited state which is further confirmed by Raman scattering experiments. A nanometer scale mechanism for the photostructural change is discussed, based on these experimental data.

A nondestructive tool for nanomaterials: Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy

Modern materials science requires efficient processing and characterization techniques for low dimensional systems. Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy are important nondestructive tools which provide much information about such systems. Commercial Raman spectrometers are expensive. We discuss a less expensive apparatus with assembled collection optics. Studies of Ge nanoparticles, porous silicon (nanowire), carbon nanotubes, and two-dimensional InGaAs quantum layers demonstrate that this apparatus is useful for teaching and research on nanomaterials.