Sharif Digital Repository

Scaling of CMOS devices being aggressively decreasing by reduce of transistor dimensions. However, such level of integration leads to many physical limit and transistors cannot get much smaller than their current size. Quantum-dot Cellular Automate is a novel technology which significantly reduces physical limit of CMOS devices implementation, thus, it can be an appropriate candidate to be substituted for CMOS technology. In addition to high integration density of QCA circuits, other unique specifications such as high speed and low power consumption encourage researchers to utilize this technology instead of CMOS technology. In this paper, a new layout of XOR gate is presented in QCA... 

Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (QCA) is a very interesting nano-scale technology. Extremely small feature size and ultra-low power consumption are the most important features of QCA compared to CMOS. Counters are considered as one of the most fundamental components in sequential circuits. Previous QCA synchronous counters (QSCs) have been designed and simulated using two methods. In the first method, QSCs utilize direct mapping flip-flop designs in CMOS technology to QCA. In the second method, QSCs are designed with the inherent capability of QCA technology. Despite being attractive, mentioned approaches have constraints (i.e. long wire length and area issues). In this brief, design and... 

TiO2 nanorod layers are synthesized by simple chemical oxidation of Ti substrates. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements show effective light scattering properties originating from nanorods with length scales on the order of one micron. The films are sensitized with CdSe quantum dots (QDs) by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and integrated as a photoanode in quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs). Incorporating nanorods in photoanode structures provided 4- to 8-fold enhancement in light scattering, which leads to a high power conversion efficiency, 3.03% (Voc = 497 mV, Jsc = 11.32 mA/cm2, FF = 0.54), in optimized structures. High efficiency can be obtained... 

We report a new design of solar cells based on semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), monolithic quantum dot sensitized solar cells (MQDSCs). MQDSCs offer the prospect of having lower cost and a simpler manufacturing process in comparison to conventional double substrate QDSCs. Our proposed monolithic QDSCs have a triple-layer structure, composed of a CdS sensitized mesoporous TiO2 photoanode, a scattering layer made by a core-shell structure of TiO 2/SiO2, and a carbon active/graphite counter electrode layer, which are all deposited on a single fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. Mesoporous TiO2 was sensitized with CdS QDs by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction. Here,... 

Here we analyze the effect of two relevant aspects related to cell preparation on quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) performance: the architecture of the TiO 2 nanostructured electrode and the growth method of quantum dots (QD). Particular attention is given to the effect on the photovoltage, V oc, since this parameter conveys the main current limitation of QDSCs. We have analyzed electrodes directly sensitized with CdSe QDs grown by chemical bath deposition (CBD) and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). We have carried out a systematic study comprising structural, optical, photophysical and photoelectrochemical characterization in order to correlate the material... 

Surface treatments of TiO2 nanostructure in semiconductor quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) aimed to increase the photovoltaic conversion efficiencies of the solar cells are analyzed. A fluorine treatment, with NH4F or HF, on the TiO2 electrodes leads to a general increase of QDSCs performance in a range of QDSCs using different light absorbing materials: CdS, CdSe, and PbS/CdS. In contrast, no significant effect on QDSC performance has been observed after a TiCl4 treatment conventionally used for high performance dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Surface and photoelectrochemical characterization of treated electrodes and full solar cells was carried out by means of X-ray... 

In this paper a new cell structure is introduced to reduce the rate of CdTe corrosion in quantum dot sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) using I -/I- 3 electrolyte. In this cell, one electrode is a titania nanorod that was sensitized with CdTe quantum dots as the working electrode. A thin gold layer is sputtered on the electrode to act as a protective layer against the I-/I- 3 corrosive electrolyte and to passivate the CdTe surface traps which are the main recombination centres in a QDSSC. In addition, a Schottky barrier formed at the interface of Au and CdTe prevents direct electron recombination from the CdTe conduction band with I- 3 ions. The mechanism of charge transfer and quantum dot... 

Among the various approaches, ZnS treatment is the most convenient method for reducing the charge recombination in quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). Here an improved method of ZnS treatment is explained for efficiency enhancement in QDSSCs. To get to the goal of device performance improvement, it is essential to have a uniform deposited layer. We utilized Triton X-100 (TX-100) as a surfactant to the convenient aqueous precursors during ZnS deposition by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method. It helps to decrease in contact angle and increase in wettability of the aqueous precursor and results in a more uniform deposited layer. The effect of modified ZnS treatment... 

The excellent photoluminescent properties of Fe3O4-graphene quantum dots (Fe3O4/GQD) nanoparticles prepared at 30 and 90 °C have made them as promising optical probes for imaging. Herein, the cytotoxicity of GQD and Fe3O4/GQD nanoparticles in L929 cells was investigated using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium Bromide] assay. The cellular apoptosis or necrosis was then evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. The Fe3O4/GQD nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), photoluminescence (PL). Characterization results obtained, clearly show that Fe3O4/GQD nanoparticles... 

The determination of chiral compounds is critically important in chemical and pharmaceutical sciences. Cysteine amino acid is one of the important chiral compounds where each enantiomer (L and D) has different effects on fundamental physiological processes. The unique optical properties of nanoparticles make them a suitable probe for the determination of different analytes. In this work, the water-soluble thioglycolic acid (TGA)-capped cadmium-telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) were applied as optical nanoprobe for the simultaneous determination of cysteine enantiomers. The difference in the kinetics of the interactions between L- and D-cysteine with CdTe QDs is used for multivariate... 

In this article, the interaction of an arbitrary number of quantum dots behaving as artificial molecules with different energy levels and a multi-mode electromagnetic field is studied. We make the assumption that each quantum dot can be represented as an atom with zero kinetic energy, and that all excitonic effects except dipole-dipole interactions may be. disregarded. We use the. Jaynes-Cummings-Paul model with applications to quantum systems based on a time-dependent Hamiltonian and entangled states. We obtain a system of equations describing the interaction, and present a method to solve the equations analytically for a single mode fi,eld within the Rotating-Wave Approximation. As an... 

Sulfur quantum dots (SQDs) were fabricated using a facile hydrothermal method and used for the preparation of functional food packaging film and compared the properties with other sulfur-based fillers like elemental sulfur (ES) and sulfur nanoparticles (SNP). The SQDs have an average size of 5.3 nm and were very stable in aqueous suspension. Unlike other sulfur-based fillers, the SQD showed high antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activity, but no cytotoxicity was found for L929 mouse fibroblasts even after long-term exposure of 48 h. When sulfur-based fillers were added to the alginate film, SQD was more evenly dispersed in the polymer matrix than SNP and ES. The addition of SQD to... 

A chitosan-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with multifunctional properties were synthesized using a hydrothermal process. The CQDs were spherical with an average size of 7.8 ± 2.4 nm. The CQD showed strong antioxidant activity, potent antibacterial activity against E. coli and L. monocytogenes, and antifungal activity against A. niger and P. chrysogenum. In addition, the prepared CQD showed negligible cytotoxicity against L929 cells even at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based functional films were fabricated by adding various amounts of CQD. The CQDs were evenly dispersed in the polymer matrix to form a highly transparent UV-blocking film. The addition of CQD... 

Recent investigations on multifunctional piezoelectric semiconductors have shown their excellent potential as photovoltaic components in high-efficiency third-generation quantum nanostructure (QNS) solar cells. The current work is devoted to studying the electro-elastic behavior of high-density QNS photovoltaic semiconductors within which initial mismatch strains of arrays of quantum dots (QDs) or quantum wires (QWRs) induce coupled electro-mechanical fields. The inter-nanostructure couplings which are of great importance in high-density QNS arrays are incorporated in the presented analytical framework. In practice, QNSs with different geometries such as spherical, cuboidal, or pyramidal QDs... 

Nanoscaled quantum dots (QDs), with unique optical properties have been used for the development of theranostics. Here, InP/ZnS QDs were synthesised and functionalised with folate (QD-FA), D-glucosamine (QD-GA) or both (QD-FA-GA). The bi-functionalised QDs were further conjugated with doxorubicin (QD-FA-GA-DOX). Optimum Indium to fatty acid (In:MA) ratio was 1:3.5. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs revealed spherical morphology for the QDs (11 nm). Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum confirmed the chemical composition of the QDs. MTT analysis in the OVCAR-3 cells treated with bare QDs, QD-FA, QD-GA, QD-FA-GA and QD-FA-GA-DOX (0.2 mg/mL of QDs) after 24 h indicated... 

Theranostic liposomes have recently found a broad range of applications in nanomedicine due to stability, the high solubility of biomacromolecules, bioavailability, efficacy, and low adverse effects. However, the limitations of liposomes concerning the short systemic circulation in the body, limited controllability of the release rate, and the inability of in vivo imaging remain challenging. Herein, the development of novel hybrid ultrasound-activated piezoelectric nanoparticles based on a hybrid liposome nanocarrier composed of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and Silibinin (a hydrophobic drug) is presented. The hybrid nanoparticles are an... 

In this work, a simple method to prepare white light emissive diodes based on quantum dot (QD) colloidal solutions using mixed carbon QDs (CQDs) and CsPbI3 perovskite (PQDs) is reported. The right combination generates emission across the entire visible spectrum upon ultraviolet excitation. The white light emission of the final films provides high and stable color rendering index of 92%, tuning the chromaticity coordinates of the emission through the applied voltage. By varying the CsPbI3 QD concentration, a mixture is obtained that emits the “warm”, “neutral”, and “cold” white light sought for many indoor lighting applications, or to approximate the visible region of the solar spectrum,... 

In this work, a simple method to prepare white light emissive diodes based on quantum dot (QD) colloidal solutions using mixed carbon QDs (CQDs) and CsPbI3 perovskite (PQDs) is reported. The right combination generates emission across the entire visible spectrum upon ultraviolet excitation. The white light emission of the final films provides high and stable color rendering index of 92%, tuning the chromaticity coordinates of the emission through the applied voltage. By varying the CsPbI3 QD concentration, a mixture is obtained that emits the “warm”, “neutral”, and “cold” white light sought for many indoor lighting applications, or to approximate the visible region of the solar spectrum,... 

With significant advancements in research technologies, and an increasing global population, microfluidic and nanofluidic systems (such as point-of-care, lab-on-a-chip, organ-on-a-chip, etc) have started to revolutionize medicine. Devices that combine micron and nanotechnologies have increased sensitivity, precision and versatility for numerous medical applications. However, while there has been extensive research on microfluidic and nanofluidic systems, very few have experienced wide-spread commercialization which is puzzling and deserves our collective attention. For the above reasons, in this article, we review research advances that combine micro and nanotechnologies to create the next... 

The application of quantum dots (QDs) for detecting and treating various types of coronaviruses is very promising, as their low toxicity and high surface performance make them superior among other nanomaterials; in conjugation with fluorescent probes they are promising semiconductor nanomaterials for the detection of various cellular processes and viral infections. In view of the successful results for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2, functional QDs could serve eminent role in the growth of safe nanotherapy for the cure of viral infections in the near future; their large surface areas help bind numerous molecules post-synthetically. Functionalized QDs with high functionality, targeted selectivity,...