An air-stable, high-melt 1a-hydroxy-vitamin D.sub.3 compound, methods for preparing an animal feed composition, methods of preparing 1a-hydroxy-vitamin D.sub.3, methods of enhancing phytate phosphorus and calcium utilization, and an animal feed regime are provided.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and apparatus for depositing a layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, the method includes exposing a surface of the substrate disposed within a processing chamber to a fluid precursor, directing an electromagnetic radiation generated from a radiation source to a light scanning unit such that the electromagnetic radiation is deflected and scanned across the surface of the substrate upon which a material layer is to be formed, and initiating a deposition process with the electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength selected for photolytic dissociation of the fluid precursor to deposit the material layer onto the surface of the substrate. The radiation source may comprise a laser source, a bright light emitting diode (LED) source, or a thermal source. In one example, the radiation source is a fiber laser producing output in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and apparatus for depositing a layer on a substrate. In one embodiment, the method includes exposing a surface of the substrate disposed within a processing chamber to a fluid precursor, directing an electromagnetic radiation generated from a radiation source to a light scanning unit such that the electromagnetic radiation is deflected and scanned across the surface of the substrate upon which a material layer is to be formed, and initiating a deposition process with the electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength selected for photolytic dissociation of the fluid precursor to deposit the material layer onto the surface of the substrate. The radiation source may comprise a laser source, a bright light emitting diode (LED) source, or a thermal source. In one example, the radiation source is a fiber laser producing output in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range.

Heterocrystals of metal dichalcogenides and Bi.sub.2S.sub.3, Bi.sub.2Se.sub.3 or Bi.sub.2Te.sub.3 are presented, in which the metal dichalcogenides and Bi.sub.2S.sub.3, Bi.sub.2Se.sub.3 or Bi.sub.2Te.sub.3 do not largely retain their independent properties. These heterocrystals exhibit electronic and optical changes, which make them attractive for beyond-silicon electronics and optoelectronics. Particularly, these heterocrystals can be re-configured in a manner that allows bit writing and pattern drawing. Embodiments of these heterocrystals, methods of forming these heterocrystals, methods of reconfiguring the heterocrystals, information storage devices, optoelectronic circuits and photonic crystals are presented.

An apparatus for physical vapor transport growth of semiconductor crystals having a cylindrical vacuum enclosure defining an axis of symmetry; a reaction-cell support for supporting a reaction cell inside the vacuum enclosure; a cylindrical reaction cell made of material that is transparent to RF energy and having a height Hcell defined along the axis of symmetry; an RF coil provided around exterior of the vacuum enclosure and axially centered about the axis of symmetry, wherein the RF coil is configured to generate a uniform RF field along at least the height Hcell; and, an insulation configured for generating thermal gradient inside the reaction cell along the axis of symmetry. The ratio of height of the RF induction coil, measured along the axis of symmetry, to the height Hcell may range from 2.5 to 4.0 or from 2.8 to 4.0.

An apparatus for physical vapor transport growth of semiconductor crystals having a cylindrical vacuum enclosure defining an axis of symmetry; a reaction-cell support for supporting a reaction cell inside the vacuum enclosure; a cylindrical reaction cell made of material that is transparent to RF energy and having a height Hcell defined along the axis of symmetry; an RF coil provided around exterior of the vacuum enclosure and axially centered about the axis of symmetry, wherein the RF coil is configured to generate a uniform RF field along at least the height Hcell; and, an insulation configured for generating thermal gradient inside the reaction cell along the axis of symmetry. The ratio of height of the RF induction coil, measured along the axis of symmetry, to the height Hcell may range from 2.5 to 4.0 or from 2.8 to 4.0.

A method for producing crystalline ?-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 nanoparticles involving ultrasonic treatment of a solution of an iron (III)-containing precursor and an extract from the seeds of a plant in the family Linaceae. The method involves preparing an aqueous extract from the seeds of a plant in the family Linacae and dropwise addition of the extract to the solution of an iron (III)-containing precursor. The method yields crystalline nanoparticles of ?-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 having a spherical morphology with a diameter of 100 nm to 300 nm, a mean surface area of 240 to 250 m.sup.2/g, and a type-II nitrogen adsorption-desorption BET isotherm with a H3 hysteresis loop. A method for the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants using the nanoparticles is disclosed. An antibacterial composition containing the crystalline ?-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 nanoparticles is also disclosed.

A method for producing crystalline ?-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 nanoparticles involving ultrasonic treatment of a solution of an iron (III)-containing precursor and an extract from the seeds of a plant in the family Linaceae. The method involves preparing an aqueous extract from the seeds of a plant in the family Linacae and dropwise addition of the extract to the solution of an iron (III)-containing precursor. The method yields crystalline nanoparticles of ?-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 having a spherical morphology with a diameter of 100 nm to 300 nm, a mean surface area of 240 to 250 m.sup.2/g, and a type-II nitrogen adsorption-desorption BET isotherm with a H3 hysteresis loop. A method for the photocatalytic decomposition of organic pollutants using the nanoparticles is disclosed. An antibacterial composition containing the crystalline ?-Fe.sub.2O.sub.3 nanoparticles is also disclosed.

A method for producing a diamond single crystal includes implanting an ion other than carbon into a surface of a diamond single crystal seed substrate and thereby decreasing the transmittance of light having a wavelength of 800 nm, the surface having an off-angle of 7 degrees or less with respect to a {100} plane, and homoepitaxially growing a diamond single crystal on the ion-implanted surface of the seed substrate using a chemical vapor synthesis under synthesis conditions where the ratio N.sub.C/N.sub.H of the number of carbon-containing molecules N.sub.C to the number of hydrogen molecules N.sub.H in a gas phase is 10% or more and 40% or less, the ratio N.sub.N/N.sub.C of the number of nitrogen molecules N.sub.N to the number of carbon-containing molecules N.sub.C in the gas phase is 0.1% or more and 10% or less, and the seed substrate temperature T is 850 C. or more and less than 1000 C.

A method for producing a diamond single crystal includes implanting an ion other than carbon into a surface of a diamond single crystal seed substrate and thereby decreasing the transmittance of light having a wavelength of 800 nm, the surface having an off-angle of 7 degrees or less with respect to a {100} plane, and homoepitaxially growing a diamond single crystal on the ion-implanted surface of the seed substrate using a chemical vapor synthesis under synthesis conditions where the ratio N.sub.C/N.sub.H of the number of carbon-containing molecules N.sub.C to the number of hydrogen molecules N.sub.H in a gas phase is 10% or more and 40% or less, the ratio N.sub.N/N.sub.C of the number of nitrogen molecules N.sub.N to the number of carbon-containing molecules N.sub.C in the gas phase is 0.1% or more and 10% or less, and the seed substrate temperature T is 850 C. or more and less than 1000 C.