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In contrast to noble metals, graphene exhibits significantly lower loss, especially useful for optical sensing applications that require ultrahigh Q factors, and offer wide range tunability via an adjustable Fermi level. However, precise graphene patterning is difficult, especially for large areas, severely limiting its applications. Here, a tunable terahertz metamaterial absorber (TMMA) with ultrahigh Q factors consisting of a continuous, pattern-free graphene is demonstrated. A graphene sheet is overlaid on an Al metal array, forming a structure that supports strong localized surface plasmon polaritons (LSPPs) with fields tightly confined in the graphene, minimizing loss. Theoretical results show that this TMMA exhibits an ultrahigh Q factor of 1730, a frequency sensitivity of 2.84 THz/RIU, and an excellent figure of merit (FoM) of 365.85 RIU−1, independent of polarization. A tunability from ~2.25 to ~3.25 THz is also achieved by tuning Ef of graphene from 0.3 to 0.7 eV. The proposed graphene-based TMMA holds many potential applications, particularly in the field of sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and accurate analysis of cottonseed protein content and the composition of fatty acids (especially, saturated fatty acids) is often required in cotton production and breeding programs. This study aimed to establish a set of effective estimation models for these parameters. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration equations using partial least‐squares regression for protein concentration, oil concentration, and five fatty acids of shell‐intact cottonseeds were established based on 90 varieties, and the prediction abilities of the calibration models were verified using 45 other varieties. The prediction abilities of the NIRS calibration equations were basically consistent with external validation results. Each equation was assessed based on the ratio of performance to deviation (RPDp). Protein content and seed total fatty acid (STA) content had high RPDp values (3.687 and 3.530, respectively), whereas cottonseed kernel total fatty acid (KTA) content, linoleic acid (18:2), stearic acid (18:0), myristic acid (14:0), and palmitic acid (16:0) exhibited relatively high RPDp (2.866, 2.836, 2.697, 2.676, and 2.506, respectively). The calibration model for oleic acid (18:1) had a low RPDp (1.945). The results indicated that NIRS can be used to rapidly determine contents of STA, KTA, protein, stearic acid (18:0), myristic acid (14:0), and palmitic acid (16:0) in shell‐intact cottonseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing polarization-insensitive filters based on two dimensional (2-D) grating are mostly under normal incidence. However, in filtering optical devices, the normal incidence regime is usually avoided because it requires the use of beam separators which yields a loss of efficiency. Herein, we present a compact method to realize polarization-independent filter under oblique incidence, which is implemented on 2-D crossed grating in the telecommunication region. Plane of incidence is set to be in xz plane and three different polarization angles (0°, 45°, and 90°) are used to demonstrate the polarization-insensitivity. Realization of the polarization-insensitivity of the 2-D filter is based on the split feature under oblique incidence, according to the analysis of the physical mechanism. The location of the polarization-independent resonance is mainly determined by the grating period along x-axis and will right shift with increasing the period. Results show that the polarization-insensitive resonances occur at 1356.9 nm, 1372.6 nm and 1398.5 nm when the grating periods along x-axis are 830 nm, 850 nm and 870 nm, respectively. Moreover, the results and methods provided herein can be applied to search for the polarization-insensitive resonances of the 2-D grating with other planes of incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastage of near-infrared light seriously restricts the photoelectric conversion efficiency of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin film solar cells. Spectral upconversion is of great significance in reducing the wastage. Herein, the upconverting compound NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ was synthesized via a hydrothermal method. SEM and XRD results revealed the morphology and a phase transition from cubic to hexagonal NaYF 4 . Photoluminescence spectra indicated that the hexagonal NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ nanorods convert near-infrared light of 980 nm to the visible light with wavelength peaks at 654, 541 and 522 nm. Hence, the upconverting rods were incorporated in a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) layer on the rear side of a-Si:H solar cell. Under AM1.5 solar irradiation, a facile optical filter was used to scrutinize the effect of upconversion on the cell performance. Compared with a bare cell, the NaYF 4 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ -based a-Si:H cell exhibited an 25% improved short-circuit current and an appreciable improvement of the near-infrared response of the external quantum efficiency. Moreover, because the size of the nanorods is comparable to the wavelength of visible light, the rods effectively scattered light, thus enhancing the visible light harvesting.