Metamorphic InAs(Sb)/InGaAs/InAlAs nanoheterostructures grown on GaAs for efficient mid-IR emitters

High-efficiency semiconductor lasers and light-emitting diodes operating in the 3–5?μm mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral range are currently of great demand for a wide variety of applications, in particular, gas sensing, noninvasive medical tests, IR spectroscopy etc. III-V compounds with a lattice constant of about 6.1?Å are traditionally used for this spectral range. The attractive idea to fabricate such emitters on GaAs substrates by using In(Ga,Al)As compounds is restricted by either the minimum operating wavelength of ～8?μm in case of pseudomorphic AlGaAs-based quantum cascade lasers or requires utilization of thick metamorphic In_xAl_1-xAs buffer layers (MBLs) playing a key role in reducing the density of threading dislocations (TDs) in an active region, which otherwise result in a strong decay of the quantum efficiency of such mid-IR emitters. In this review we present the results of careful investigations of employing the convex-graded In_xAl_1-xAs MBLs for fabrication by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs (001) substrates of In(Ga,Al)As heterostructures with a combined type-II/type-I InSb/InAs/InGaAs quantum well (QW) for efficient mid-IR emitters (3–3.6?μm). The issues of strain relaxation, elastic stress balance, efficiency of radiative and non-radiative recombination at T?=?10–300?K are discussed in relation to molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth conditions and designs of the structures. A wide complex of techniques including in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning and transmission electron microscopies, X-ray diffractometry, reciprocal space mapping, selective area electron diffraction, as well as photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy was used to study in detail structural and optical properties of the metamorphic QW structures. Optimization of the growth conditions (the substrate temperature, the As₄/III ratio) and elastic strain profiles governed by variation of an inverse step in the In content profile between the MBL and the InAlAs virtual substrate results in decrease in the TD density (down to 3?×?10⁷ cm^?2), increase of the thickness of the low-TD-density near-surface MBL region to 250–300?nm, the extremely low surface roughness with the RMS value of 1.6–2.4?nm, measured by AFM, as well as rather high 3.5?μm-PL intensity at temperatures up to 300?K in such structures. The obtained results indicate that the metamorphic InSb/In(Ga,Al)As QW heterostructures of proper design, grown under the optimum MBE conditions, are very promising for fabricating the efficient mid-IR emitters on a GaAs platform.     

Efficient removal of As(V) from simulated arsenic-contaminated wastewater via a novel metal–organic framework material: Synthesis,structure, and response surface methodology

A novel metal–organic framework material {[N(C₂H₅)₃][Zn₂(ptmda)₂(μ₂-H₂O)]·(H₂O)_0.5}_n { GUT-3 ; H₂ptmda is 4,4′-([p-tolylazanediyl]bis [methylene])dibenzoic acid} was successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. GUT-3 has a two-dimensional network based on dinuclear [Zn₂(ptmda)₂(μ₂-H₂O)]⁻ building units which formed an eightfold interpenetration network in GUT-3 molecules. Hirshfeld surface analysis revealed that H–H, C–H, and O–H bonds accounted for the majority of intermolecular interactions. Moreover, the interactions between GUT-3 and As(V) – the form of As(V) is AsO₄³⁻ – were analyzed in aqueous solutions in a batch system to study the effect of pH, concentration, adsorbent dose, adsorption time, adsorption temperature, and shaking speed. The kinetic and isotherm data of arsenic adsorption on GUT-3 were accurately modeled by pseudo-second-order, Langmuir (q_m = 33.91 mg/g), and Freundlich models. The Box–Behnken response surface method was used to optimize the adsorption conditions of As(V) from the simulated arsenic-contaminated wastewater. The effect of various experimental parameters and optimal experimental conditions was ascertained using the quadratic model.     

Preparation of Fe−Co−LDH/MXene modified electrode for sensitive determination of arsenic (III) in aquatic system

3-dimensional (3D) Fe−Co−LDH/MXene composite was synthesized by in-situ synthesis and assembly of Fe−Co−LDH rod around MXene under hydrothermal condition. Due to the unique 3D configuration and good conductivity, the obtained Fe−Co−LDH/MXene modified glassy carbon electrode (Fe−Co−LDH/MXene/GCE) showed excellent electrochemical activity for As(III) detection. Via square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry, the response current on Fe−Co−LDH/MXene/GCE had good linear relationship with As(III) concentrations (1∼1000 ppt) with superior sensitivity (0.22 μA ppt⁻¹ cm⁻²) and low detection limit (0.9 ppt). The mechanism of As(III) adsorption was demonstrated. The electrode showed excellent anti-interference ability. Real water sample analysis demonstrated the Fe−Co−LDH/MXene/GCE was deployable in aqua-system.     

Calcium Sulfite Solids Activated by Iron for Enhancing As(III) Oxidation in Water

Desulfurized gypsum (DG) as a soil modifier imparts it with bulk solid sulfite. The Fe(III)–sulfite process in the liquid phase has shown great potential for the rapid removal of As(III), but the performance and mechanism of this process using DG as a sulfite source in aqueous solution remains unclear. In this work, employing solid CaSO₃ as a source of SO₃²⁻, we have studied the effects of different conditions (e.g., pH, Fe dosage, sulfite dosage) on As(III) oxidation in the Fe(III)–CaSO₃ system. The results show that 72.1% of As(III) was removed from solution by centrifugal treatment for 60 min at near-neutral pH. Quenching experiments have indicated that oxidation efficiencies of As(III) are due at 67.5% to HO^•, 17.5% to SO₅^•− and 15% to SO₄^•−. This finding may have promising implications in developing a new cost-effective technology for the treatment of arsenic-containing water using DG.     

Distribution of arsenic species in environmental samples collected in Northern Chile

Gradient ion chromatographic separation coupled with ICP-MS was used to resolve and determine the most common arsenic species in environmental and biological samples of carrots, trout, soil, sediment and river water from Region II of Chile. The carrot and trout samples showed a concentration of 49 and 168 µg g^?1, respectively, of total As. Both concentrations are high considering the basal level. In the carrots, percentage of 45 and 31% of total As were found for As(III) and As(V) species, respectively. In the trout, the higher concentration related to AsB at 39% of the total As. As(III) and DMA were also present in relatively high concentrations. The River Loa and the soil in which the carrots are growing also present very high As(V) concentrations of 100 and 17 µg g^?1, respectively. The ratio between the concentration for the same As species found in the living organisms (carrots and trout) and the environment in which they grow (soil and water) can provide important information about the possible absorption or biotransformation of As species in living beings. As(III) and DMA are the species in which the greatest accumulation occurs with respect to the medium in which they are present, and biotransformation also appears to take place.     

Determination of As(III) using developed dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The method relies on selective complexation of As(III) with a suitable chelating agent followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) method. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) equipped with microsample introduction system was utilised for determination of As(III). 1-Undecanol and acetone were used as extraction solvent and disperser solvent respectively. Some effective parameters on complex formation and extraction have been optimised. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factor of 108 for As(III) was obtained from 9.8?mL of water samples. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 2–15?µg?L^?1 with detection limits of 0.60?µg?L^?1 for As(III). The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for ten replicate measurements of 5.00?µ?gL^?1 of As(III) was 6.2%. Operation simplicity and high enrichment factors are the main advantages of DLLME for the determination of As(III) without necessity for hydride generation in water samples.     

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.     

复合塑料包装袋中重金属迁移量的测定

将复合塑料袋用4％乙酸浸泡,采用石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪对其中的铅、镉、铬、镍、铜、砷迁移量进行了测定.结果表明:各元素的吸光度与质量浓度呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.998 9～0.9999,元素Pb、Cd、Cr、Ni、Cu、As的检出限分别为1.04、0.05、0.98、1.00、0.97、0.96 μg/L,各元素...     

Synthesis of Iridium Oxide Nanotubes by Electrodeposition into Polycarbonate Template: Fabrication of Chromium(III) and Arsenic(III) Electrochemical Sensor

For the first time iridium oxide (IrO₂) nanotubes are synthesized by electrodeposition in a polycarbonate (PC) template. Potential cycling (90 cycles) between 0.0 and 0.9 V is used for the preparation of IrO_x nanotubes onto the PC template with a pore diameter of 100 nm. Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images show, that IrO₂ nanotubes with uniform diameters of 110±10 nm and an estimated length of 1–3 µm are formed. The electrochemical properties and the electrocatalytic activity of a glassy carbon‐IrO_x nanotube modified electrode toward Cr³⁺ and As³⁺ oxidation are investigated. Finally, the modified electrode is used for micromolar detection of the proposed analytes using differential pulse voltammetry.     

Lactic acid bacteria in dairy food: Surface characterization and interactions with food matrix components

This review gives an overview of the importance of interactions occurring in dairy matrices between Lactic Acid Bacteria and milk components. Dairy products are important sources of biological active compounds of particular relevance to human health. These compounds include immunoglobulins, whey proteins and peptides, polar lipids, and lactic acid bacteria including probiotics. A better understanding of interactions between bioactive components and their delivery matrix may successfully improve their transport to their target site of action. Pioneering research on probiotic lactic acid bacteria has mainly focused on their host effects. However, very little is known about their interaction with dairy ingredients. Such knowledge could contribute to designing new and more efficient dairy food, and to better understand relationships between milk constituents. The purpose of this review is first to provide an overview of the current knowledge about the biomolecules produced on bacterial surface and the composition of the dairy matter. In order to understand how bacteria interact with dairy molecules, adhesion mechanisms are subsequently reviewed with a special focus on the environmental conditions affecting bacterial adhesion. Methods dedicated to investigate the bacterial surface and to decipher interactions between bacteria and abiotic dairy components are also detailed. Finally, relevant industrial implications of these interactions are presented and discussed.