Thin and transparent films of doped cadmium sulfide (CdS) were obtained on commercial glass substrates by Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique. The films were doped with low concentration of Sn, and annealed in air at 300 °C for 45 min. The morphological characterization of the films with different amounts of dopant was made using SEM and EDAX analysis. Optical properties of the films were evaluated by measuring transmittance using the UV-vis spectrophotometer. A comparison of the results revealed that lower concentration of Sn doping improves transmittance of CdS films and makes them suitable for application as window layer of CdTe/CIGS solar cells.

Two different concentrations of CdCl₂ and (NH₂)₂CS were used to prepare CdS thin films, to be deposited on glass substrate by chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. CdCl₂ (0.000312 M and 0.000625 M) was employed as a source of Cd²⁺ while (NH₂)₂CS (0.00125 M and 0.000625 M) for S²⁻ at a constant bath temperature of 70 °C. Adhesion of the deposited films was found to be very good for all the solution concentrations of both reagents. The films were air-annealed at a temperature between 200 °C to 360 °C for one hour. The minimum thickness was observed to be 33.6 nm for film annealed at 320 °C. XRD analyses reveal that the films were cubic along with peaks of hexagonal phase for all film samples. The crystallite size of the films decreased from 41.4 nm to 7.4 nm with the increase of annealing temperature for the CdCl₂ (0.000312 M). Optical energy band gap (E_g), Urbach energy (E_u) and absorption coefficient (α) have been calculated from the transmission spectral data. These parameters have been discussed as a function of annealing temperature and solution concentration. The best transmission (about 97%) was obtained for the air-annealed films at higher temperature at CdCl₂ (0.000312 M).

Mulberry is economically important and can also play a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gases. Leaf and shoot traits were measured forMorus albavar. Kanmasi,M. albavar. Karyansuban,M. albavar. Latifolia, andM. albavar. PFI-1 to assess aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon sequestration. Variety-specific and multivariety allometric AGB models were developed using the equivalent diameter at breast height (EDBH) and plant height (H). The complete-harvest method was used to measure leaf and shoot traits and biomass, and the ash method was used to measure organic carbon content. The results showed significant (p < 0.01) varietal differences in leaf and shoot traits, AGB and carbon sequestration. PFI-1 variety had the greatest leaf density (mean ± SE: 1828.3 ± 0.3 leaves tree⁻¹), Karyansuban had the largest mean leaf area (185.94 ± 8.95 cm²). A diminishing return was found between leaf area and leaf density. Latifolia had the highest shoot density per tree (46.6 ± 1.83 shoots tree⁻¹), total shoot length (264.1 ± 2.32 m), dry biomass (16.69 ± 0.58 kg tree⁻¹), carbon sequestration (9.99 ± 0.32 kg tree⁻¹) and CO₂mitigation (36.67 ± 1.16 kg). The variety-specific AGB modelsb(EDBH) andb(EDBH)²showed good fit and reasonable accuracy with a coefficient of determination (R²) = 0.98–0.99, standard error of estimates (SEE) = 0.1125–0.3130 and root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.1084–0.3017. The multivariety modelsbln(EDBH) and (EDBH)^0.756showed good-fitness and accuracy withR² = 0.85–0.86, SEE = 1.6231–1.6445 and RMSE = 1.609–1.630. On the basis of these findings, variety Latifolia has good potential for biomass production, and allometric equations based on EDBH can be used to estimate AGB with a reasonable accuracy.

Photopyroelectric (PPE) spectroscopy is a nondestructive tool that is used to study the optical properties of the ceramics (ZnO + 0.4MnO₂ + 0.4Co₃O₄ + xV₂O₅), x = 0–1 mol%. Wavelength of incident light, modulated at 10 Hz, was in the range of 300–800 nm. PPE spectrum with reference to the doping level and sintering temperature is discussed. Optical energy band-gap (E_g) was 2.11 eV for 0.3 mol% V₂O₅ at a sintering temperature of 1025 °C as determined from the plot (ρhυ)² versus hυ. With a further increase in V₂O₅, the value of E_g was found to be 2.59 eV. Steepness factor ‘σ_A’ and ‘σ_B’, which characterize the slope of exponential optical absorption, is discussed with reference to the variation of E_g. XRD, SEM and EDAX are also used for characterization of the ceramic. For this ceramic, the maximum relative density and grain size was observed to be 91.8% and 9.5 μm, respectively.

The optical band-gap energy (E_g) is an important feature of semiconductors which determines their applications in optoelectronics. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the electronic states of ceramic ZnO and the effect of doped impurities under different processing conditions. E_g of the ceramic ZnO + xBi₂O₃ + xTiO₂, where x = 0.5 mol%, was determined using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer attached to a Reflectance Spectroscopy Accessory for powdered samples. The samples was prepared using the solid-state route and sintered at temperatures from 1140 to 1260 °C for 45 and 90 minutes. E_g was observed to decrease with an increase of sintering temperature. XRD analysis indicated hexagonal ZnO and few small peaks of intergranular layers of secondary phases. The relative density of the sintered ceramics decreased and the average grain size increased with the increase of sintering temperature.