NOx emissions from intermediate-temperature combustion of steel-industry by-product gases

Journal ArticleA study of NOx emissions from the combustion of coke-oven gas and blast-furnace gas (steel industry by-product gases) was undertaken using detailed kinetic modeling to elucidate the pathways for NOx formation. The study was performed at the intermediate temperatures (1200-1400K) and 1 atm, which represent conditions found in a commercial, ultra-low NOx burner. Simulation results indicated that nitric oxide is formed exclusively in the radical-rich flame zone under these conditions. The traditionally-accepted pathway of Fenimore 'prompt' NO formation, through methylidene and methylene attack on nitrogen molecules, was found to play no role under the conditions of our simulations. In light of this finding, kinetic pathways for NO formation were re-examined. It was found that, according to currently available kinetic parameters, the NO formation is controlled by the H + N 2 reaction. Recently published studies on this reaction, as well as on the rate for the products-set-corrected spin-conserved pathway for the CH + N2 reaction, agree with our finding that the H + N2 channel will be the dominant initiation reaction to NO formation from nitrogen molecule. The NOx emissions from our simulations were found to consist almost exclusively of nitric oxide

Angular dependence of the emission wavelength in microactivity organic light-emitting diodes

In this work, we have calculated the emission wavelength dependence on the viewing angle for different combinations of metallic mirrors. The dispersion of the optical functions of ten different metals is fully taken into account using Lorentz oscillator model. The metals have been assigned to a function of top (cathode) or bottom (anode) mirror based on their work function. Refractive index dispersion of organic layers, N,N'-disphenyl-N,N'-bis(3-methylphenyl)-1,1'-disphenyl-4,4'-diamine (TPD) and tris (8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (emitting layer) is taken into account via Cauchy model. The change of the emission wavelength with angle has been calculated iteratively-to fully take into account wavelength dependence of indices of refraction and phase change. Calculations have been performed for different hole transport materials and different thickness of the emitting layer

Shape transition in ZnO nanostructures and its effect on blue-green photoluminescence

We report that ZnO nanostructures synthesized by chemical route undergo a shape transition at ~ 20 nm from spherical to hexagonal morphology thereby changing the spectral components of the blue-green emission. Spherically shaped nanocrystals (size range 11 -18 nm) show emission in the range of 555-564 nm and the emission shifts to the longer wavelength as the size increases. On the other hand, rods and hexagonal platelets (size range 20-85 nm), which is the equilibrium morphology after the shape transition, show emission near 465-500 nm and it shifts to shorter wavelength as the size increases. The shape transition also leads to relaxation of microstrain in the system. Our analysis shows that the visible emission originates from a defect layer on the nanostructure surface which is affected by the shape transition. The change in the spectral component of the blue green emission on change of shape has been explained as arising from band bending due to depletion layer in smaller spherical particles which is absent in the larger particles with flat faces.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Optimization of Organic Light Emitting Diode Structures

In this work we present detailed analysis of the emitted radiation spectrum from tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) based OLEDs as a function of: the choice of cathode, the thickness of organic layers, and the position of the hole transport layer/Alq3 interface. The calculations fully take into account dispersion in glass substrate, indium tin oxide anode, and in the organic layers, as well as the dispersion in the metal cathode. Influence of the incoherent transparent substrate (1 mm glass substrate) is also fully accounted for. Four cathode structures have been considered: Mg/Ag, Ca/Ag, LiF/Al, and Ag. For the hole transport layer, N,N'-diphenyl-N,N'-(3-methylphenyl)-1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-diamine (TPD) was considered. As expected, emitted radiation is strongly dependent on the position of the emissive layer inside the cavity and its distance from the metal cathode. Although our optical model for an OLED does not explicitly include exciton quenching in vicinity of the metal cathode, designs placing emissive layer near the cathode are excluded to avoid unrealistic results. Guidelines for designing devices with optimum emission efficiency are presented. Finally, the optimized devices were fabricated and characterized and experimental and calculated emission spectra were compared

Toxicity of ZnO and TiO<font size=-1>₂</font> to Escherichia coli cells

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Rayleigh Imaging of Graphene and Graphene Layers

We investigate graphene and graphene layers on different substrates by monochromatic and white-light confocal Rayleigh scattering microscopy. The image contrast depends sensitively on the dielectric properties of the sample as well as the substrate geometry and can be described quantitatively using the complex refractive index of bulk graphite. For few layers (<6) the monochromatic contrast increases linearly with thickness: the samples behave as a superposition of single sheets which act as independent two dimensional electron gases. Thus, Rayleigh imaging is a general, simple and quick tool to identify graphene layers, that is readily combined with Raman scattering, which provides structural identification.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Modeling the optical constants of AlxGa1-xAs alloys

The extension of Adachi's model with a Gaussian-like broadening function, in place of Lorentzian, is used to model the optical dielectric function of the alloy AlxGa1-xAs. Gaussian-like broadening is accomplished by replacing the damping constant in the Lorentzian line shape with a frequency dependent expression. In this way, the comparative simplicity of the analytic formulas of the model is preserved, while the accuracy becomes comparable to that of more intricate models, and/or models with significantly more parameters. The employed model accurately describes the optical dielectric function in the spectral range from 1.5 to 6.0 eV within the entire alloy composition range. The relative rms error obtained for the refractive index is below 2.2% for all compositions. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)00512-5]

Reliability characteristics and conduction mechanisms in resistive switching memory devices using ZnO thin films

In this work, bipolar resistive switching characteristics were demonstrated in the Pt/ZnO/Pt structure. Reliability tests show that ac cycling endurance level above 106 can be achieved. However, significant window closure takes place after about 102 dc cycles. Data retention characteristic exhibits no observed degradation after 168 h. Read durability shows stable resistance states after 106 read times. The current transportation in ZnO films is dominated by the hopping conduction and the ohmic conduction in high-resistance and low-resistance states, respectively. Therefore, the electrical parameters of trap energy level, trap spacing, Fermi level, electron mobility, and effective density of states in conduction band in ZnO were identified

PirB regulates a structural substrate for cortical plasticity

Experience-driven circuit changes underlie learning and memory. Monocular deprivation (MD) engages synaptic mechanisms of ocular dominance (OD) plasticity and generates robust increases in dendritic spine density on L5 pyramidal neurons. Here we show that the paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B (PirB) negatively regulates spine density, as well as the threshold for adult OD plasticity. In PirB(-/-) mice, spine density and stability are significantly greater than WT, associated with higher-frequency miniature synaptic currents, larger long-term potentiation, and deficient long-term depression. Although MD generates the expected increase in spine density in WT, in PirB(-/-) this increase is occluded. In adult PirB(-/-), OD plasticity is larger and more rapid than in WT, consistent with the maintenance of elevated spine density. Thus, PirB normally regulates spine and excitatory synapse density and consequently the threshold for new learning throughout life