The influence of the reaction gas composition during the DC magnetron sputtering process on the structural, chemical and optical properties of Ce-oxide thin films was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies confirmed that all thin films exhibited a polycrystalline character with cubic fluorite structure for cerium dioxide. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed that cerium is present in two oxidation states, namely as CeO2 and Ce2O3, at the surface of the films prepared at oxygen/argon flow ratios between 0% and 7%, whereas the films are completely oxidized into CeO2 as the aforementioned ratio increases beyond 14%. Various optical parameters for the thin films (including an optical band gap in the range of 2.25–3.1 eV) were derived from the UV–Vis reflectance. A significant change in the band gap was observed as oxygen/argon flow ratio was raised from 7% to 14% and this finding is consistent with the high-resolution XPS analysis of Ce 3d that reports a mixture of Ce2O3 and CeO2 in the films. Density functional theory (DFT+U) implemented in the Cambridge Serial Total Energy Package (CASTEP) was carried out to simulate the optical constants of CeO2 clusters at ground state. The computed electronic density of states (DOSs) of the optimized unit cell of CeO2 yields a band gap that agrees well with the experimentally measured optical band gap. The simulated and measured absorption coefficient (α) exhibited a similar trend and, to some extent, have similar values in the wavelength range from 100 to 2500 nm. The combined results of this study demonstrate good correlation between the theoretical and experimental findings.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a relatively new class of materials of unique porous structures and exceptional properties. Currently, more than 110,000 types of MOFs have been reported among the countless possibilities. In this study, we have synthesised a novel MOF using zirconium chloride as the metal source and 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-biquinoline (bicinchoninic acid disodium salt) as the linker, which reacted in N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent. Three preparation methods were employed to prepare five types of the MOF, and they were compared to optimize the synthesis conditions. The resulting MOFs, named Zr-BADS, were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), microscopy, and
... Show MoreA field experiment was carried out at University of Baghdad, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences during fall season of 2020 and spring season of 2021. This study was aimed evaluate the effect of the organic fertilizer and boron foliar on the yield of potatoes for processing. The factorial experiment (5*4) within RCBD and three replicates. The organic fertilizer as palm peat at four levels (0, 12, 24 and 36 ton. ha-1) in addition to the chemical fertilizer recommendation treatment. Boron at four Concentrations 0, 100, 150 and 200 mg. L-1 . The results revealed significant different among application of organic fertilizer at the level of 24 ton. ha-1 and the foliar application of boron at a concentration of 100 mg. L-1 in the
... Show MoreBored piles settlement behavior under vertical loaded is the main factor that affects the design requirements of single or group of piles in soft soils. The estimation of bored pile settlement is a complicated problem because it depends upon many factors which may include ground conditions, validation of bored pile design method through testing and validation of theoretical or numerical prediction of the settlement value. In this study, a prototype single and bored pile group model of arrangement (1*1, 1*2 and 2*2) for total length to diameter ratios (L/D) is 13.33 and clear spacing three times of diameter, subjected to vertical axial loads. The bored piles model used for the test was 2000
... Show MoreThe problem of research was the lack of research that dealt with issue of the job design approach that is more suitable for knowledge work, therefore, the research aims to determine the impact of job enrichment, and knowledge capitalon strategic success, starting from the hypothesis that there significant impact of job enrichment and knowledge capital on strategic success, to achieve this goal the researchers from the theoretical literature and related studies conclude to the construction of the scheme shows the hypothetical relationship between the variables, which was adopted job enrichment as independent variable while knowledge capital plays two roles, the first as an independent variable and the second as an intermediate
... Show MoreBackground: Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function with diabetes and hypertension as the leading cause. Chronic kidney disease is one of these systemic diseases that can affect salivary contents. Aims: This study aimed to assess salivary immunoglobulin A, interleukin-6 and C- reactive protein in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis and those on conservative treatment in comparison with control subjects. Materials and methods: Ninety subjects were included in this study divided into three groups: 30 patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis for at least 6 months ago; 30 patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative treatment and 30 healthy control subjects. Secretory immunoglobulin A, inte
... Show MoreThis research was conducted under Lath house canopy of a nursery circumstances, Baghdad University for season 2013 in order to study the effect of soak lemon seeds sour orange with different levels of licorice concentrations extract (0, 0.5, 2.5 and 4.5 g/l) for 24 hours in the percentage of germination and some recipes vegetative growth of seedlings .the results outweigh the bitter orange seedlings and focus soak for licorice extract 4.5 g / l significant superiority in most of the traits plant height, leaf number, root length, stem diameter, amounting to 31.077 cm, 14.46 paper / plant, 25.35 cm, 0.52 mm respectively, which showed significant differences for the treatment of comparison which gave lower values. Clear that the licorice ext
... Show MoreThis qualitative study was conducted on eight types of commercial baking yeast which available in local markets to estimate their fermentation activity as affecting the Bread industry and the impact of the salt added to DoughLeavening, The results showed a great variation in the fermentation capacity of yeast samples (their role in swelling the dough), most notably the sample value Y3 and least sample Y7 and reached 80% and 20% respectively, and the value of Leavening by using the two types of yeast with addition of three levels of salt (0 , 1 and 2%) have 20.0 , 19.7 and 15.7 of the sample Y3, compared with 10.5 , 10.3 and 8.8 of the sample Y7 for each of the levels of salt respectively, reflect
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