Combinative solution processing and Li doping approach to develop p type NiO thin films with enchanced electrical properties

The deposition of nickel oxide NiOx thin film from an acetylacetonate source using many solution based techniques has been avoided owing to its poor solubility in alcohol solvents. From this perspective, this work provides a systematic investigation of the development of NiOx thin film, using a combinative approach of ultrasonic spray pyrolysis USP and Li dopant for the synthesis and optimization of structural and optoelectronic properties of the films. An in depth comparative analysis of nickel acetylacetonate based precursor, employing acetonitrile and methanol as solvents, is provided. It is demonstrated that USP from acetylacetonate precursor yielded uniform, well compact, and transparent films, with polycrystalline cubic NiOx crystal structures. By screening the deposition temperature in the range of 300 450 C, a temperature of 400 C was identified as an optimal processing temperature leading to uniform, compact, highly transparent, and p type conductive films. At optimized deposition conditions 400 C , lithium doped NiOx Li NiOx thin film was deposited. The shift of the main 200 XRD peak position from 43.48 0 Li NiOx to 43.56 60 Li NiOx indicated Li incorporation into the NiOx lattice. An X ray photoelectron spectroscopy XPS study was employed to unravel the incorporation of Li into the deposited Li NiOx thin films. With the deconvolution of the Ni 2p core level for the as deposited 0, 60 Li NiOx films, the intensity of Ni3 related peak was found to increase slightly with Li doping. Furthermore, all the deposited Li NiOx thin films showed p type conductivity behavior, and the resistivity was reduced from 104 amp; 937;cm 0 Li NiOx to 102 amp; 937;cm 60 Li NiOx . Based on these results, the deposited NiOx and Li NiOx thin films suggested that USP deposited Li NiOx is highly suitable for application in inverted structure solar cells as the hole transport laye

Cytomorphological, histopathological and immunohistochemical observations on the histiocytic origin of canine transmissible venereal tumour

The cytogenic origin of canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) still remains unknown. Resulting from paucity of information on the histiocytic phenotypic features and behaviours of CTVT, this study was undertaken to show some uncommon cytomorphological features of CTVT and its immunoreactivity with S-100 protein. Nine cases of CTVT were investigated (6 females and 3 males) using nine fine needle aspirates for cytology and four biopsy samples for histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Cytology revealed CTVT cells with pale basophilic, fine granular cytoplasm and distinct intra-nuclear (3/9) and intra-cytoplasmic (9/9) vacuolations. Erythrophagocytosis by a giant binucleated CTVT cell in one dog and nuclear budding in 2 dogs were observed. Histopathology showed loose sheets and cords of uniformly round to ovoid cells with slight indistinct eosinophilic cytoplasm and a tendency towards glandular as well as syncytial formation. Nuclei were large and round with a single centrally placed nucleolus. The mitotic index was high. Immunohistochemistry of the four biopsy samples revealed negative immunoreactivity to  pan-cytokeratin, actin and desmin but positive immunoreactivity with vimetin and S-100 proteins. This is the first report in which CTVT showed erythrophagocytosis, nuclear budding and positive immunoreactivity to S-100 protein. Based on these cytomorphological and immunohistochemical features, we conclude that CTVT is of histiocytic/dendritic origin.Keywords: Cytology, histopathology, Histiocytic origin,   immunohistochemistry, Transmissible Venereal Tumou