Plasmonic-Layered InAs/InGaAs Quantum-Dots-in-a-Well Pixel Detector for Spectral-Shaping and Photocurrent Enhancement

The algorithmic spectrometry as an alternative to traditional approaches has the potential to become the next generation of infrared (IR) spectral sensing technology, which is free of physical optical filters, and only a very small number of data are required from the IR detector. A key requirement is that the detector spectral responses must be engineered to create an optimal basis that efficiently synthesizes spectral information. Light manipulation through metal perforated with a two-dimensional square array of subwavelength holes provides remarkable opportunities to harness the detector response in a way that is incorporated into the detector. Instead of previous experimental efforts mainly focusing on the change over the resonance wavelength by tuning the geometrical parameters of the plasmonic layer, we experimentally and numerically demonstrate the capability for the control over the shape of bias-tunable response spectra using a fixed plasmonic structure as well as the detector sensitivity improvement, which is enabled by the anisotropic dielectric constants of the quantum dots-in-a-well (DWELL) absorber and the presence of electric field along the growth direction. Our work will pave the way for the development of an intelligent IR detector, which is capable of direct viewing of spectral information without utilizing any intervening the spectral filters

Fabry-Perot Cavity Resonance Enabling Highly Polarization-Sensitive Double-Layer Gold Grating

We present experimental and theoretical investigations on the polarization properties of a single- and a double-layer gold (Au) grating, serving as a wire grid polarizer. Two layers of Au gratings form a cavity that effectively modulates the transmission and reflection of linearly polarized light. Theoretical calculations based on a transfer matrix method reveals that the double-layer Au grating structure creates an optical cavity exhibiting Fabry-Perot (FP) resonance modes. As compared to a single-layer grating, the FP cavity resonance modes of the double-layer grating significantly enhance the transmission of the transverse magnetic (TM) mode, while suppressing the transmission of the transverse electric (TE) mode. As a result, the extinction ratio of TM to TE transmission for the double-layer grating structure is improved by a factor of approximately 8 in the mid-wave infrared region of 3.4–6 μm. Furthermore, excellent infrared imagery is obtained with over a 600% increase in the ratio of the TM-output voltage (Vθ = 0°) to TE-output voltage (Vθ = 90°). This double-layer Au grating structure has great potential for use in polarimetric imaging applications due to its superior ability to resolve linear polarization signatures

School-related sedentary behaviours and indicators of health and well-being among children and youth: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the associations between school-related sedentary behaviours and indicators of health and well-being in children and youth (~ 5-18 years) attending school. METHODS: This review was conducted to inform the development of School-Related Sedentary Behaviour Recommendations. Peer-reviewed, published, or in-press articles in English were included. Reviews, meta-analyses, and case studies were excluded; all other study designs were eligible. Further, articles had to meet the a priori study criteria for population, intervention, comparator (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021227600). Embase, MEDLINE® ALL, and PsycINFO were searched. Risk of bias was assessed for individual experimental studies using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool, and in observational studies based on the GRADE framework and in line with previous systematic reviews examining sedentary behaviours in children. Overall quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework for each outcome category and study design. Results were synthesized narratively, grouped by study design and outcome category. Further, several high-level summaries were conducted to help interpret results. RESULTS: Evidence was synthesized from 116 reports, including 1,385,038 participants and 1173 extracted associations. More school-related sedentary behaviour was favourably associated with nearly one-third of extracted associations for cognitive (33%) and social-emotional (32%) indicators (e.g., less anxiety), but unfavourably associated with other movement behaviours (e.g., less physical activity) (35%). Active lessons were favourable (72%), compared to more school-related sedentary behaviours, when examining associations for all health and well-being indicators. More homework was favourable across all health and well-being indicators in 4% of extracted associations for primary school children, and 25% of extracted associations for secondary school children. However, ≥2 h/day of homework appeared to be unfavourable for health and well-being. Limitations for synthesized studies included generally low quality of evidence and a lack of studies in South American, African, or low-middle income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Findings can help inform policy makers, schools, and teachers, regarding the amount of homework assigned and the introduction of active lessons into the classroom to enhance health and well-being of children. More research is needed examining school-related sedentary behaviours and indicators of health and well-being in low- and middle-income countries

Effect of ethanolamine passivation of ZnO nanoparticles in quantum dot light emitting diode structure

The aging of ZnO nanoparticles in quantum dot light-emitting diode (QD-LED) structures was studied. Coarsening of as-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles is observed in both solution and thin film structures, which potentially deteriorates the performance of QD-LED devices over time. First, the temperature effect on ZnO coarsening was investigated, and it was revealed that aging of ZnO nanoparticles is faster at higher temperature due to a diffusion-controlled mechanism of nanoparticle coarsening. To observe aggregation of ZnO in the film state, the electron transporting part (ZnO/Al) of the QD-LED structure was prepared. The current density of a ZnO film and an electron-only device (QD/ZnO between two electrodes) was also measured. Resistance of the film increased as a function of aging time, which corresponded with observations of the ZnO film by optical microscopy. Aggregation of ZnO nanoparticles was directly measured by the root-mean-square value using atomic force microscopy. Ethanolamine (EA) stabilizer was added to the ZnO solution to disperse the ZnO nanoparticles without aggregation. The effect of EA on the surface passivation of the ZnO found to suppress pinhole formation, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy observations. Finally, the device lifetime was measured for QD-LEDs with EA-stabilized ZnO to understand the effect of ZnO aging on long-term QD-LED device operation