[en] Zn_1−xLi_xO (x = 0, 0.005, 0.010 and 0.015) thin films were grown on single-crystal sapphire (Al₂O₃) substrates (001) by pulsed laser deposition method. We prepared two sets of thin films. In set-1, the doping of Li was varied. A fractional Li-doping causes a systematic rise in the temperature-dependent resistivity of the films. Further, the ultraviolet (UV) light (365 nm) exposure on these films causes a variety of effects. We observed a UV light-induced metal-semiconductor transition in otherwise semiconducting films. The transition manifests in a temperature range above 200 K to 300 K. In set-2, thin films of maximum doping (1.5%) were prepared by varying the thickness. The structural study revealed that the films are crystalline and oriented towards c-axis of wurtzite ZnO. The temperature-dependent resistivity measurements show the increase in resistivity with an increase in the thickness of the films. (paper)

[en] Milling of 2D flakes is a simple method to fabricate nanomaterial of any desired shape and size. Inherently milling process can introduce the impurity or disorder which might show exotic quantum transport phenomenon when studied at the low temperature. Here we report temperature dependent weak antilocalization (WAL) effects in the sculpted nanowires of topological insulator in the presence of perpendicular magnetic field. The quadratic and linear magnetoconductivity (MC) curves at low temperature (>2 K) indicate the bulk contribution in the transport. A cusp feature in magnetoconductivity curves (positive magnetoresistance) at ultra low (<1 K) temperature and at magnetic field (<1 T) represent the WAL indicating the transport through surface states. The MC curves are discussed by using the 2D Hikami–Larkin–Nagaoka theory. The cross-over/interplay nature of positive and negative magnetoresistance observed in the MR curve at ultra-low temperature. Our results indicate that transport through topological surface states (TSS) in sculpted nanowires of Bi₂Te₃ can be achieved at mK range and linear MR observed at ∼2 K could be the coexistence of electron transport through TSS and contribution from the bulk band. (paper)

[en] Two new d¹⁰ based coordination polymers having formula [Cd(HL1)(L2)] (1) and [Zn(HL1)(L2)] (2) (H₃L1=5-(4-carboxyphenoxy)isophthalic acid and L2=3-(4-methyl-6-(pyridine-3-yl)pyridine-2-yl)pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized using IR, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), photoluminescence and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The single-crystal X-ray investigation reveals that both of 1 and 2 show 2D layer architectures with square lattice topology. The photoluminescence investigation indicates that both 1 and 2 could be a prospective candidate for developing luminescence sensors for the highly sensing of nitroaromatic analytes. Furthermore, the luminescent property of 1 and 2 in different solvents analytes as well as nitrobenzene derivative have been investigated and the observed quenching in fluorescence have been corroborated by theoretical calculations. - Graphical abstract: Two new d¹⁰-based luminescent MOFs synthesized and their sensing properties towards different nitroaromatics investigated.