Effects of Sb doping on the structure and properties of SnO2 films

Transparent heat-insulating SnO₂ films were prepared on the glass substrate with sol-gel. The effects of Sb doping on the structure and photoelectric properties of the films were investigated. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Ultraviolet–Visible-Near Infrared Spectrometer (UV-VIS-NIR) and Hall Effect tester. The results show that the doping of Sb did not change the basic crystal structure of the SnO₂ film, but reduced the crystallinity of the film. With the increase of Sb doping, the grain size decreases first and then maintains basically invariable. The sheet resistance of the film decreases first and then increases. The transmittance of the substrate glass coated with this film (hereinafter referred to as the film's transmittance) in the near-infrared region (780–2500 nm) decreases from 92.55% to 60.48%, and increases a little when the doping amount exceeded 11 mol%. And its transmittance of visible light (380–780 nm) fluctuated slightly between about 81% and 86%.     

A survey of surface tension,molar volume and density for Sn–Ag–Cu–Bi–Sb quinary alloys as lead-free solders

ABSTRACT

By applying the geometric models and the theoretical equation, the surface tension, the molar volume and the density were studied. The empirical calculations were carried out in temperature range 623?K?≤?T?≤?1123?K. Only few thermophysical properties were estimated for eight quinary alloys: Sn3.55Ag0.5Cu3Bi3Sb, Sn3.48Ag0.5Cu3Bi5Sb, Sn3.48 Ag0.5Cu5Bi3Sb, Sn3.40 Ag0.5Cu5Bi5Sb, Sn3.53Ag1Cu3Bi3Sb, Sn3.46Ag1Cu3Bi5Sb, Sn3.46Ag1Cu5Bi3Sb, Sn3.38Ag1Cu5Bi5Sb. The results show that surface tension and density have a linear appearance for all temperatures. We have also studied the influence of the composition and temperature in the studied alloys. The obtained theoretical results are compared with the experimental ones and with the conventional Pb–Sn welds.     

An organoantimony nitrate complex with azastibocine framework as water tolerant Lewis acid catalyst for the synthesis of 1,2-disubstitued benzimidazoles

A novel organoantimony complex of 6-cyclohexyl-6,7-dihydrodibenzo[c,f] [1,5]azastibocin-12(5H)-yl nitrate ( 2 ) was synthesized and systematically characterized by techniques such as NMR spectra, TG-DSC, and X-ray diffraction. It was found that the complex 2 exhibits relatively strong Lewis acidity (3.3 < Ho ≤ 4.8) and could be employed as a water tolerant Lewis acid catalyst for the synthesis of synthetically valuable benzimidazole derivatives starting from aldehydes and arylenediamines. This catalytic system shows excellent tolerance toward a wide variety of functional groups, such as methyl, methoxyl, fluoro, chloro, bromo, nitro, cyan, trifluoromethyl, 1-naphthaldehyde, furfural and n-butyl, together with facile reusability in 5 times scale enlarged synthesis.     

Determination of traces of Sb(III) using ASV in Sb-rich water samples affected by mining

Chemical speciation [Sb(V) and Sb(III)] affects the mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of antimony. In oxygenated environments Sb(V) dominates whereas thermodynamically unstable Sb(III) may occur. In this study, a simple method for the determination of Sb(III) in non acidic, oxygenated water contaminated with antimony is proposed. The determination of Sb(III) was performed by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV, 1–20 μg L⁻¹ working range), the total antimony, Sb(tot), was determined either by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, 1–100 μg L⁻¹ working range) or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, 100–10,000 μg L⁻¹ working range) depending on concentration. Water samples were filtered on site through 0.45 μm pore size filters. The aliquot for determination of Sb(tot) was acidified with 1% (v/v) HNO₃. Different preservatives, namely HCl, L(+) ascorbic acid or L(+) tartaric acid plus HNO₃, were used to assess the stability of Sb(III) in synthetic solutions.The method was tested on groundwater and surface water draining the abandoned mine of Su Suergiu (Sardinia, Italy), an area heavily contaminated with Sb. The waters interacting with Sb-rich mining residues were non acidic, oxygenated, and showed extreme concentrations of Sb(tot) (up to 13,000 μg L⁻¹), with Sb(III) <10% of total antimony. The stabilization with L(+) tartaric acid plus HNO₃ appears useful for the determination of Sb(III) in oxygenated, Sb-rich waters. Due to the instability of Sb(III), analyses should be carried out within 7 days upon the water collection. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it does not require time-consuming preparation steps prior to analysis of Sb(III).     

Characterization of Cr‐doped Sb2Te3 films and their application to phase‐change memory

Phase‐change memory (PCM) is regarded as one of the most promising candidates for the next‐generation nonvolatile memory. Its storage medium, phase‐change material, has attracted continuous exploration. Along the traditional GeTe–Sb₂Te₃ tie line, the binary compound Sb₂Te₃ is a high‐speed phase‐change material matrix. However, the low crystallization temperature prevents its practical application in PCM. Here, Cr is doped into Sb₂Te₃, called Cr–Sb₂Te₃ (CST), to improve the thermal stability. We find that, with increase of the Cr concentration, grains are obviously refined. However, all the CST films exhibit a single hexagonal phase as Sb₂Te₃ without phase separation. Also, the Cr helps to inhibit oxidation of Sb atoms. For the selected film CST_10.5, the resistance ratio between amorphous and crystalline states is more than two orders of magnitude; the temperature for 10‐year data retention is 120.8 °C, which indicates better thermal stability than GST and pure Sb₂Te₃. PCM cells based on CST_10.5 present small threshold current/voltage (4 μA/0.67 V). In addition, the cell can be operated by a low SET/RESET voltage pulse (1.1 V/2.4 V) with 50 ns width. Thus, Cr–Sb₂Te₃ with suitable composition is a promising novel phase‐change material used for PCM with high speed and good thermal stability performances. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Solid-state chemiluminescence assay for ultrasensitive detection of antimony using on-vial immobilization of CdSe quantum dots combined with liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction

On-vial immobilized CdSe quantum dots (QDs) are applied for the first time as chemiluminescent probes for the detection of trace metal ions. Among 17 metal ions tested, inhibition of the chemiluminescence when CdSe QDs are oxidized by H₂O₂ was observed for Sb, Se and Cu. Liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction was implemented in order to improve the selectivity and sensitivity of the chemiluminescent assay.     

Colloidal Synthesis and Photophysics of M3Sb2I9 (M=Cs and Rb) Nanocrystals: Lead‐Free Perovskites

Herein we report the colloidal synthesis of Cs₃Sb₂I₉ and Rb₃Sb₂I₉ perovskite nanocrystals, and explore their potential for optoelectronic applications. Different morphologies, such as nanoplatelets and nanorods of Cs₃Sb₂I₉, and spherical Rb₃Sb₂I₉ nanocrystals were prepared. All these samples show band‐edge emissions in the yellow–red region. Exciton many‐body interactions studied by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy of Cs₃Sb₂I₉ nanorods reveals characteristic second‐derivative‐type spectral features, suggesting red‐shifted excitons by as much as 79 meV. A high absorption cross‐section of ca. 10⁻¹⁵ cm² was estimated. The results suggest that colloidal Cs₃Sb₂I₉ and Rb₃Sb₂I₉ nanocrystals are potential candidates for optical and optoelectronic applications in the visible region, though a better control of defect chemistry is required for efficient applications.     

Comparative phytotoxicity of methylated and inorganic arsenic- and antimony species to Lemna minor, Wolffia arrhiza and Selenastrum capricornutum

The alkylation of metalloids through the transfer of methyl groups is an important factor in the biogeochemical cycling of elements like arsenic and antimony. In the environment, many different organic and inorganic forms of these elements can therefore be found in soils, sediments or organisms. Studies that compare the ecotoxicity of these different chemical species however are rare. Therefore, this study aimed to generate toxicity data on two scarcely studied organic compounds of arsenic and antimony, as well as to compare their toxicity to the inorganic species, which are studied so far to a higher extent, in order to improve the environmental effect assessment of these elements. To this purpose, bioassays were performed in which three different aquatic organisms (the floating water plants Lemna minor and Wolffia arrhiza and the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum) were exposed to a concentration series of 3 different arsenic species (sodium arsenite — As(III), sodium arsenate — As(V), and monomethylarsonous diiodide — MMAs(III)) and three different antimony species (antimony potassium tartrate hydrate — Sb(III), potassium hexahydroxoantimonate — Sb(V), trimethylantimony(V) bromide — TMSb(V). The observed effect concentrations demonstrated that the inorganic (III)- and (V)-valent species of arsenic were clearly more toxic than the corresponding antimony species. The highest overall toxicity has been shown by MMAs(III) followed by the inorganic As(III). The highest toxicity of the three tested antimony species has been observed for TMSb(V). The observed differences in effect levels stress the importance once more that speciation must not be ignored in toxicity studies.     

选择性合成不同形貌的Sb2S3纳米结构应用于高性能的染料敏化太阳能电池（英文）

近几十年来,随着全球变暖和能源危机的日益严重,对取之不尽、用之不竭的清洁能源技术的需求越来越迫切.1991年Gratzel首次报道了染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSCs),它以低廉的价格、优异的理论功率转换效率(PCE)、环保、多色透明等优点而引起了研究者的关注.Sb2S3因其1.5-2.2 eV的间隙宽度被认为是最有前途的对电极材料之一.此外,Sb2S3是地球中含量丰富的无毒锑矿物的主要成分,还被广泛应用于太阳能转换材料、催化剂、光导探测器等领域.众所周知,石墨烯具有巨大的比表面积、显著的载流子迁移率和优异的热/化学稳定性,这使得提高电子转移效率和电催化活性成为可能.首先,采用改进的Hummers方法制备了氧化石墨烯纳米片;然后采用水热法通过改变Sb源以及实验pH值,合成了Sb2S3和Sb2S3@RGO样品.对样品进行X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜镜(SEM)、投射电子显微镜(TEM)以及比表面积表征.结果表明,在Sb源不变的情况下,Sb2S3样品的形貌随pH值的变化而变化.以三乙酸锑为Sb源,在pH=3时,Sb2S3的形貌类似于一个完整的纳米棒结构;在pH值为6时,样品为不规则球体;当pH值为8时,纳米片结构开始出现;但当p H=10时,纳米片结构并不均匀.根据XRD分析,只有当pH值为3时,样品的衍射峰才与标准卡(JCPDS42-1393)的衍射峰一致.当以氯化锑作为锑源,样品的形貌由不规则的杆状(pH=3)转变为纳米球(pH=6),然后出现纳米片结构(pH=8).不同的是,当p H值为10时,纳米薄片形成均一的花状结构.XRD结果表明,除pH值为3外,样品的衍射峰与标准卡(JCPDS42-1393)的值吻合较好.结果表明,合成条件所需的Sb源和碱性环境是合成具有均匀花状结构的纳米片状Sb2S3所必不可少的.测得Sb2S3的比表面积约为41.72 m^2g^-1,平均孔径为31.08nm,Sb2S3@RGO的分别为44.53 m^2g^-1和22.65 nm.Sb2S3和Sb2S3@RGO复合材料均具有介孔结构,为内部电催化剂提供了广阔的通道,从而提高了对电极的催化能力,促进了电化学反应.将Sb2S3纳米花球和Sb2S3@RGO纳米薄片作为染料敏化太阳能电池的对电极进行了测试,由于石墨烯的引入,后者比前者具有更好的电催化性能.电化学实验结果表明,与Sb2S3,RGO,Pt作为对电极相比,制备的Sb2S3@RGO纳米薄片具有更好的催化活性、电荷转移能力和电化学稳定性,Sb2S3@RGO的功率转换效率达到8.17%,优于标准Pt对电极(7.75%).     

制备二氧化钛分枝纳米棒阵列结构以提高聚合物杂化太阳电池的性能

分别采用一步水热法和两步水热法在导电玻璃(FTO)上制备了二氧化钛(TiO₂)纳米棒(NR)阵列和TiO₂分枝纳米棒(B-NR)阵列。 利用低温化学浴沉积法(CBD)在TiO₂纳米棒阵列(NRA)和TiO₂分枝纳米棒阵列(B-NRA)基底上沉积Sb₂S₃纳米粒子(NPs)。 接着分别旋涂聚-3已基噻吩(P3HT)和2,2'7,7'-四-(二甲氧基二苯胺)螺芴(Spiro-OMeTAD)组装成TiO₂(NRA)/Sb₂S₃/P3HT/Spiro-OMeTAD和TiO₂(B-NRA)/Sb₂S₃/P3HT/ Spiro-OMeTAD为光活性层的杂化太阳电池。 结果表明,由TiO₂(NRA)/Sb₂S₃/P3HT/Spiro-OMeTAD复合膜结构组装的杂化太阳电池的光电转换效率(PCE)是2.92%,而由TiO₂(B-NRA)/Sb₂S₃/P3HT/Spiro-OMeTAD复合膜结构组装的杂化太阳电池的PCE提高到了4.67%。