UV dosimeter based on polyamide woven fabric and nitro blue tetrazolium chloride as an active compound

This paper reports on the preparation and features of a UV light dosimeter composed of nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) and polyamide woven fabric. This textile dosimeter is based on the conversion reaction of NBT into formazan, which was initially examined in aerated aqueous solutions through steady state UV irradiation. Irradiated solutions change their colour as a consequence of the formation of polydisperse NBT formazan particles. This was analysed in relation to the absorbed dose of UV light through UV–VIS spectrophotometry and dynamic laser light scattering measurements. When NBT substrate molecules are embedded in polyamide textile, UV irradiation leads to similar effects as in solution. However, the tinge intensity changes at much lower absorbed doses. The dependence of the tinge intensity on the absorbed dose was followed by measurements of the remission of light from the NBT-polyamide samples. Consequently, the calibration parameters were calculated such as the dose sensitivity, dose range, and quasi-linear dose range. An improvement of the NBT-polyamide samples by application of a colour levelling agent and improvement of their resistance to humidity is presented. Finally, the samples were used for estimation of absorbed UV energy distribution showing their capability as new dosimeters for in-plane high resolution radiation dose measurements.     

Influence of the UV radiation wavelength on the curing of oligourethaneacrylate compositions for protective coatings of optical fibers

The curing kinetics of films produced from compositions based on UV-curable oligourethaneacrylates is investigated using, as a source of radiation, an individual spectral line separated by a monochromator from the radiation of a DRT-400 mercury tubular lamp. It has been established that in the region of spectral sensitivity of the composition, the curing time of the film is inversely proportional to the intensity of volumetric absorption of the radiation-source photons by the initiator at the lower surface of the film under study. Individual contributions of some of the lines to the process of composition curing by using the integral spectrum of the radiation source have been evaluated. The spectral-kinetic results obtained were confirmed when using the compositions under study as protective coatings of optical quartz fibers.Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 71, No. 6, pp. 836–840, November–December, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Molecularly intact and dissociative adsorption of water on clean Cu(1 1 0): A comparison with the water/Ru(0 0 1) system

An X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study was undertaken of the water/Cu(1 1 0)-system finding non-dissociative adsorption on clean Cu(1 1 0) at temperatures below 150 K. Thermally induced dissociation of D₂O is observed to occur above 150 K, similar to the H₂O/Ru(0 0 1) system, with an experimentally derived activation barrier of 0.53-0.56 eV which is very close in magnitude to the derived activation barrier for desorption of 0.50-0.53 eV. X-ray and electron induced damage to the water overlayer was quantified and used to rationalize the results of a recent XPS study of the water/Cu(1 1 0)-system where partial dissociation was observed already at 90 K.     

The effect of Na on the electronic properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films: A local‐probe study

We investigated the effect of Na incorporation on the electronic properties of polycrystalline CuIn_0.7Ga_0.3Se₂ thin films using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The tunneling spectra indicate a reduced in‐gap density of states at grain boundaries and reveal a downward band‐bending in Na‐rich grain boundaries with respect to the adjacent grains, in agreement with our conductive atomic force microscopy data. It thus appears that Na passivates deep‐level defects at grain boundaries and induces a downward band‐bending there. Moreover, we provide evidence that Na passivates mainly Cu vacancy related defects. We suggest that the grain‐boundary passivation, which reduces the recombination rate of photogenerated carriers, is at least of major importance in the well known Na‐induced improvement in the efficiency of the corresponding solar cells. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Influence of structural defects on the insertion behavior of γ-MnO2: comparison of H and Li

In an attempt to correlate the crystallographic disorder of γ-MnO₂ compounds to their cationic uptake, the influence of their structural defects on their lithium and proton insertion behavior has been studied and compared. The rate of structural defects in the starting γ-MnO₂ compounds strongly modifies both the voltage vs. cation composition profiles (in terms of shape, average voltage of each electrochemical process, polarization and cycled capacity) and the cycling behavior during the first cycles. This work illustrates that the relationships between structure and cation insertion behavior are different for Li and for proton. The study allows to select for better performing samples in terms of maximum cycled capacity: Li insertion is favored by a very small amount of initial disorder (i.e. a low rate of structural defects in starting compound), while proton insertion requires maximum initial disorder (i.e. an intermediate rate of structural defects). Extrapolation of the results demonstrates the interest of Ramsdellite γ-MnO₂ compounds for cathode applications of rechargeable Li batteries.