In this work, (Cu1-xAgx)2ZnSnSe4 (CAZTSe) alloys with various silver content (x= 0.0, 0.1and 0.2) have been prepared by reacting their high purity elements (Cu, Ag, Zn, Sn and Se) in an evacuated quartz tube under pressure of 10 -3Torr. The composition of the prepared alloys was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) analysis, the results were close to the theoretical values. CAZTSe thin films with a thickness of 800 nm were deposited by thermal evaporation technique on glass substrates at room temperature (RT) with a deposition rate of 0.53nm/sec. Similarly, CdS thin films were deposited with a thickness of 100 nm on the same substrates at RT with a deposition rate of 0.3nm/sec from ready-made CdS alloy powder. All prepared thin films were annealed at temperatures of 373K and 473K under vacuum (10-3Torr) for 1h. X-ray analysis showed that all CAZTSe alloys and their thin films were polycrystalline and have the tetragonal structure with preferential orientation in the (112) direction, while all thin CdS films were polycrystalline and have the hexagonal structure with preferential orientation in the (002) direction. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique was used to study the surface morphology of all prepared CAZTSe films, while the atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique was used to study the surface topography of all prepared CAZTSe and CdS films. SEM results revealed that CAZTSe films had uniform surface features with irregular sized grains, while AFM results showed that the surface roughness and the average grain size of CAZTSe and CdS thin films increased with increasing Ag content for CAZTSe thin films and annealing temperature for CAZTSe and CdS thin films. The absorbance and transmittance spectra for CAZTSe and CdS thin films were recorded in the wavelength ranges of (400-1100) nm and (350- 1100) nm, respectively. Optical measurements showed that all CAZTSe and CdS thin films have a direct energy gap (Eg) that decreased with increasing silver content for CAZTSe thin films and annealing temperature (Ta) for both types of prepared thin films, so it decreased from 1.73 eV to1.5 eV when x content increased from 0.0 to 0.2 and decreased from 1.5 eV to1.46 eV and from 2.47 eV to 2.38 eV when Ta increased from RT to 473K for CAZTSe thin films with x content equal to 0.2 and CdS thin films, respectively. Optical constants such as extinction coefficient, refractive index and dielectric constant were calculated for all prepared thin films. The measurements of the electrical properties for prepared films showed that the D.C electrical conductivity (σd.c) increased with increasing Ag content for CAZTSe thin films and annealing temperature for both types of thin films. So the electrical conductivity changed from 1.1276*10-2 (Ω.cm)-1 to 28.9266*10-2 (Ω.cm)-1 when x changed from 0.0 to 0.2 and changed from 28.9266*10-2 (Ω.cm)-1 to 57.4599*10-2 (Ω.cm)-1 and from 4.0476*10-4 (Ω.cm)-1 to 9.4227*10-4 (Ω.cm)-1 when Ta changed from RT to 473K for CAZTSe thin films with Ag content equal to 0.2 and CdS thin films, respectively. The prepared thin films have two activation energies (Ea1 & Ea2) in the temperature ranges of (318-488)K and (313-443)K for CAZTSe and CdS films, respectively. The results of Hall effect for CAZTSe thin films showed that all films were of acceptor type and the concentration of holes in them decreased with increasing silver content and annealing temperature, while CdS thin films were of donor type and the concentration of electrons in them increased with increasing annealing temperature. In this research, solar cells were fabricated from CdS/CAZTSe/Si structurThe C-V measurements revealed that all prepared heterojunctions were of the abrupt type and the junction capacitance and carrier concentration reduced while the width of depletion region and the built-in potential increased with increasing the silver content and annealing temperature. The current-voltage characteristics under dark condition of CAZTSe heterojunctions showed that both the ideality factor and saturation current decreased with increasing Ag content and annealing temperature. While,The current-voltage characteristics under dark condition of CAZTSe heterojunctions showed that both the ideality factor and saturation current decreased with increasing Ag content and annealing temperature. While, the current-voltage measurements under illumination showed that the performance of heterojunction solar cell improved with increasing Ag content and annealing temperature. The result indicated that the prepared solar cell with 0.2 Ag content and 473K annealing temperature exhibited the highest efficiency (η = 2.827%) compared to other prepared solar cells
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder of airways characterized by inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, inflammatory cell infiltration, mucous secretion, and remodelling. Ammi majus is medicinal plant belong to family of Apiaceous which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. This study designed to investigate of anti-asthmatic activity of alcoholic extract of Ammi majus in improvement of asthma. Forty-eight healthy female mice divided to six groups Group I: the negative control group (distal water only), Group II: Positive control group (ovalbumin group), Group III: Ammi majus (64 mg/kg/day) with sensitization, Group IV:Ammi majus (128 mg/kg/day) with sensitization, Group V: Ammi majus (64 mg/kg/day) without sensitiza
... Show MorePhytophagous stink bugs (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) are economically important insect pests of fruit, vegetable, nut and field crops. This study was carried out during the season of 2013 in orchards within Erbil city, to follow the stink bug Mustha spinulosa (Lefebvre, 1831) seasonal fluctuation on some fruit trees: olive, plum, apricot, pear, apple and almond.
The stink bug reaches its maximum abundance throughout the second week of August (38.2/tree) coinciding with mean temperature and relative humidity of 33.40C and 28.14% respectively, and the highest total mean of the number of the insect was recorded on the olive trees (181.8/tree). The study reveals that the stink bug attacked 22 trees (fruit and forest) while it has not atta
The expansion of building blocks at the expense of agricultural land is one of the main problems causing climate change within the urban area of a city. The research came to determine these indicators, as a study was conducted on the expansion of the building blocks in three municipalities in the city of Baghdad for a period of four decades extended in the form of time cycles for the period (1981-2021) and using ArcMap GIS 10.7 technology. Then, the impact of this expansion on temperature rates was evaluated, as they are the most important climatic elements due to their significant effect on the rest of the elements. The results showed a clear, direct relationship between the increase in urban expansion rates and the corresponding r
... Show MoreBreast cancer (BC) is first of the top 10 malignancies in Iraq. Dose‐volume histograms (DVHs) are most commonly used as a plan evaluation tool. This study aimed to assess DVH statistics using three‐dimensional conformal radiotherapies in BC in an adjuvant setting.
A retrospective study of 70 histologically confirmed women diagnosed with BC was reviewed. The study was conducted between November 2020 and May 2021, planning for treatment with adjuvant three‐dimensional conformal radiotherapies. The treatment plan used for each woman was based on an analysis of the volumetric dose, inclu
Restoration of degraded lands by adoption of recommended conservation management practices can rehabilitate watersheds and lead to improving soil and water quality. The objective was to evaluate the effects of grass buffers (GBs), biomass crops (BCs), grass waterways (GWWs), agroforestry buffers (ABs), landscape positions, and distance from tree base for AB treatment on soil quality compared with row crop (RC) (corn [
This paper presents an experimental study for strengthening existing columns against axial compressive loads. The objective of this work is to study the behavior of concrete square columns strengthening with circulation technique. In Iraq, there are significantly more reinforced rectangular and square columns than reinforced circular columns in reinforced concrete buildings. Moreover, early research studies indicated that strengthening of rectangular or square columns using wraps of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) provided rather little enhancement to their load-carrying capacity. In this paper, shape modification technique was performed to modify the shape (cross section) of the columns from square columns into circular colu
... Show MoreConcrete columns with hollow-core sections find widespread application owing to their excellent structural efficiency and efficient material utilization. However, corrosion poses a challenge in concrete buildings with steel reinforcement. This paper explores the possibility of using glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement as a non-corrosive and economically viable substitute for steel reinforcement in short square hollow concrete columns. Twelve hollow short columns were meticulously prepared in the laboratory experiments and subjected to pure axial compressive loads until failure. All columns featured a hollow square section with exterior dimensions of (180 × 180) mm and 900 mm height. The columns were categorized into
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