Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) modified ZnS nanoparticles with enhanced sonocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic in water

Sonocatalysis has attracted excellent research attention to eradicate hazardous pollutants from the environment effectively. This work synthesised an organic/inorganic hybrid composite catalyst by coupling Fe₃O₄@MIL-100(Fe) (FM) with ZnS nanoparticles using the solvothermal evaporation method. Remarkably, the composite material delivered significantly enhanced sonocatalytic efficiency for removing tetracycline (TC) antibiotics in the presence of H₂O₂ compared to bare ZnS nanoparticles. By adjusting different parameters such as TC concentration, catalyst dosage and H₂O₂ amount, the optimized composite (20 %Fe₃O₄@MIL-100(Fe)/ZnS) removed 78.25% antibiotic in 20 min at the cost of 1 mL of H₂O₂. These much superior activities are attributed to the efficient interface contact, effective charge transfer, accelerated transport capabilities and strong redox potential for the superior acoustic catalytic performance of FM/ZnS composite systems. Based on various characterization, free radical capture experiments and energy band structures, we proposed a mechanism for the sonocatalytic degradation of tetracycline based on S-scheme heterojunctions and Fenton like reactions. This work will provide an important reference for developing ZnS-based nanomaterials to study sonodegradation of pollutants.     

Optical studies of the ferroelastic phase transitions in Rb3H(SeO4)2, (NH4)3H(SO4)2 and (NH4)3H(SeO4)2

Optical observations of growth twins and ferroelastic domains and measurements of the rotation of the optical indicatrix were carried out for Rb₃H(SeO₄)₂ and (NH₄)₃H(SO₄)₂ using an optical microscope. Taking into account the symmetry reduction from the rhombohedral (Rm) to the monoclinic phase (B2/a) the occurrence of domains and growth twins can be well described. The orientations of oblique ferroelastic walls are well determined by the spontaneous strains ^s e ₁₁ and ^s e ₂₃ at room temperature.     

Fractional charges and the renormalization group in theSU(4)×O(4) string model

We study the renormalization group equations of the gauge couplings in theSU(4)×O(4)～SU(4)×SU(2) _L ×SU(2_ _R string model, derived in the context of the free fermionic formulation of the four dimensional superstring. We calculate the effective string unification scale taking into account string threshold corrections and we consider the consequences of then _L andn _R fractionally charged states, sitting in the (1, 2, 1) and (1, 1, 2) representations correspondingly, of the gauge symmetry of the model. Some of these states become massive at a very high scale, when a number of singlet fields acquire vev's. However, many of them (the precise number depends on the specific choice of the flat direction) remain in the massless spectrum. We consider various cases and find that, for specific choices of flat directions, the physical parameters of the model, like the grand unification scale and the low energy parameters sin²θ _W and α₃, depend only on the differencen _?=n_L-n_R. We study more general cases where remnants of the exotic doublets remain below theSU(4) breaking scale. We also solve the coupled differential system of the renormalization group equations for the gauge and the Yukawa couplings and estimate the range of the top quark mass which is found to lie in the range 140 GeV<m _t<190GeV.     

Structural transformations in LiGd9(SiO4)6O2 and Ca2Gd8(SiO4)6O2 crystals containing isolated [SiO4] complexes: Raman spectroscopic study

The vibrational spectra of single crystals of the LiGd₉(SiO₄)₆O₂ and Ca₂Gd₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ oxyapatites have been studied using Raman spectroscopy at room and high temperatures. The spectra of internal and external vibrations in these structures have been resolved. The structural transformation of the LiGd₉(SiO₄)₆O₂ and Ca₂Gd₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ oxyapatites in the processes of melting and crystallization, as well as during rapid quenching of the melt, has been investigated. It has been found that the melting of the LiGd₉(SiO₄)₆O₂ compound has an incongruent character and that new metastable disordered phases are formed during rapid quenching of the Ca₂Gd₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ melt.     

Anomalous Vibrational Dependence of the Rotational and Hyperfine Parameters in the B(4)Pi-X(4)Sigma(-) Transition of NbO

The laser excitation spectrum of jet-cooled NbO in the region 16 000-18 000 cm(-1) has been recorded at high resolution, giving rotational and hyperfine constants for the levels v=0-3 of the B(4)Pi state and v=1 of the X(4)Sigma(-) state; zero gaps have also been measured at low resolution for some weaker bands involving higher vibrational levels. Taken together with the laser data for the B-X (0,0) band from Adam et al. (J. Chem. Phys. 94, 6240-6262 (1994)) and the Fourier transform emission data for the doublet manifold from Launila et al. (J. Mol. Spectrosc. 186, 131-143 (1997)), the new data give a very complete picture of the vibrational energy level pattern in this region. Strong irregularities in the vibrational dependences of the B(4)Pi rotational and hyperfine constants can be interpreted in terms of spin-orbit interaction between the B(4)Pi state and the f(2)Pi, e(2)Phi, and d(2)Delta states. The interaction is strong enough that all three doublet states can be seen in absorption from the X(4)Sigma(-) ground state, adding to the complexity of the spectrum. The hitherto unknown sigmadeltasigma* (4)Delta state is estimated to lie near 17 500 cm(-1), from the change of sign in the spin-rotation parameter gamma of the B(4)Pi state between v=2 and 3. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Coherence-incoherence crossover and the mass-renormalization puzzles in Sr(2)RuO(4)

We calculate the electronic structure of Sr(2)RuO(4), treating correlations within dynamical mean-field theory. The approach successfully reproduces several experimental results and explains the key properties of this material: the anisotropic mass renormalization of quasiparticles and the crossover into an incoherent regime above a low temperature scale. While the orbital differentiation originates from the proximity of the van Hove singularity, strong correlations are caused by the Hund's coupling. The generality of this mechanism for other correlated materials is pointed out.     

The electronic structure of RbTiOPO(4) and the effects of the A-site cation substitution in KTiOPO(4)-family crystals

The electronic structure of RbTiOPO(4) has been investigated with x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Detailed photoemission spectra of the element core levels have been recorded under excitation by nonmonochromatic Al Kα radiation (1486.6?eV). The chemical bonding parameters are compared to those reported for complex titanates and phosphates. The band structures of KTiOPO(4), RbTiOPO(4), K(0.535)R(0.465)TiOPO(4) and TlTiOPO(4) have been calculated by ab?initio methods and compared to available experimental results. It is found that the band structure of KTP-type phosphate crystals is weakly dependent on the nature of the A-site (A=K, Rb, Tl) element.     

Renormalization group analysis and the top quark mass in the SU(4) × O(4) string model

We perform a two-loop renormalization group analysis for the gauge couplings in the SU(4) × O(4) model. We use the string theory prediction for the unification scale and the experimentally acceptable low energy values for ₃ and sin² θ_w, to determine the magnitudes of the various symmetry breaking scales as well as the value of the common gauge coupling at the unification scale. We solve the coupled differential system for the gauge and top and bottom Yukawa couplings, and determine the top mass as a function of two parameters which could be chosen to be the ratio of the Higgs VEV's that give masses to the up and down quarks and the value of the top coupling at the unification scale. We find a relatively heavy top quark mass which lies in the range 130m_t180 GeV.     

Evidence for a transition in the pairing symmetry of the electron-doped cuprates La(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y) and Pr(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y)

We present measurements of the magnetic penetration depth, lambda(-2)(T), in Pr(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y) and La(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-y) films at three Ce doping levels, x, near optimal. Optimal and overdoped films are qualitatively and quantitatively different from underdoped films. For example, lambda(-2)(0) decreases rapidly with underdoping but is roughly constant above optimal doping. Also, lambda(-2)(T) at low T is exponential at optimal and overdoping but is quadratic at underdoping. In light of other studies that suggest both d- and s-wave pairing symmetry in nominal optimally doped samples, our results are evidence for a transition from d- to s-wave pairing near optimal doping.     

Dynamical Stark Effect in the nu(2)/nu(4) Vibrational Polyad of SiH(4): Theory and Observation

We report a theoretical and experimental investigation of the dynamical Stark effect in a tetrahedral molecule, silane (SiH(4)). We use a tetrahedral formalism and Floquet theory to calculate the absorption spectra for the molecule dressed by an intense nonresonant pulsed laser. Experimentally, the dynamical Stark effect is observed for transitions of the nu(2)/nu(4) vibrational polyad of SiH(4) by means of nanosecond diode laser absorption spectroscopy and a Nd:YAG laser excitation. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Irreducible Representations and Reduced Coefficients of Quantum Algebra SUq(4) in the SUq(4)⊃ SUq(2)⊕SUq(2) Basis

In this paper, the tensor-like method is presented, and the applications to quantum algebra SU_q(4) are given. The irreducible representation of SU_q(4) and a recurrent formula to calculate reduced coefficients of SU_q(4)⊃ SU_q(2)⊕SU_q(2) is obtained. Some of reduced matrix elements and q-reduced scalar factors (qRF) are tabulated.     

High-energy spin excitations in the electron-doped superconductor Pr(0.88)LaCe(0.12)CuO(4-delta) with T(c) = 21 K

We use high-resolution inelastic neutron scattering to study the low-temperature magnetic excitations of the electron-doping superconductor Pr(0.88)LaCe(0.12)CuO(4-delta) (T(c) = 21 +/- 1 K) over a wide energy range (4 meV < or = homega < or = 330 meV). The effect of electron doping is to cause a wave vector (Q) broadening in the low-energy (homega < or = 80 meV) commensurate spin fluctuations at (0.5, 0.5) and to suppress the intensity of spin-wave-like excitations at high energies (homega > or = 100 meV). This leads to a substantial redistribution in the spectrum of the local dynamical spin susceptibility chi'(omega), and reveals a new energy scale similar to that of the lightly hole-doped YB2Cu3O(6.353) (T(c) = 18 K).     

Bi-functional Au/FeS (Au/Co3O4) composite for in situ SERS monitoring and degradation of organic pollutants

Journal of Nanoparticle Research - Magnetic particles (MPs) are known to respond to a magnetic field and can be moved by magnetic force, which make them good carriers in bioengineering and...     

Crossing the gap from p- to n-type doping: nature of the states near the chemical potential in La(2)-(x)Sr(x)CuO(4) and Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-delta)

We report on an x-ray absorption and resonant photoemission study on single crystals of the high-T(c) cuprates La2-xSrxCuO4 and Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-delta). Using an intrinsic energy reference, we find that the chemical potential of La2-xSrxCuO4 lies near the top of the La2CuO4 valence band whereas in Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-delta) it is situated near the bottom of the Nd2CuO4 conduction band. The data clearly establish that the introduction of Ce in Nd2CuO4 results in electrons being doped into the CuO2 planes. We infer that the states closest to the chemical potential have a Cu 3d(10) singlet origin in Nd(2-x)Ce(x)CuO(4-delta) and a 3d(9)L singlet origin in La2-xSrxCuO4.     

O(4) and U(3) symmetry breaking in the second row of the periodic table

An analysis of O(4) and U(3) symmetry classified states and their contribution to configuration mixing between 3s ²-3p ^n-2 and 3p ⁿ functions is made through a global group-theoretical study of second-row atoms (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar) and their ions. This permits us to estimate the amount of symmetry breaking due to electronic repulsions in these systems. The O(4) eigenstates give consistently better overlaps with the exact intrashell (3s-3p) functions than U(3), which is striking if one remembers that the results for first-row atoms are exactly the opposite. This ‘partial recovery of O(4) symmetry’ is consistent with the tendency of O(4) to improve with the number of electrons and may prove to be useful. However, if we introduce innershell effects the O(4) scheme is spoiled and in fact it is U(3) which gives a better approximation to unrestricted Hartree-Fock functions for 3s-3p complexes. These results are discussed and analysed with regard to their future possibilities.     

Study of Tensor Correlations in 4He via the 4He(p, dp)d and 4He(p, dp)pn Reactions

Tensor correlations in ⁴He were studied via the (p, dp) reaction at the incident energy of 392 MeV with a focus on spin configurations of correlated pn pairs in ⁴He at high relative momenta ${(P_{\rm rel}^{\rm cor})}$ . The preliminary results show that the correlated pn pair at ${P_{\rm rel}^{\rm cor} = 310 {\rm MeV/c}}$ predominantly has the channel spin S = 1, which is consistent with the characteristics of tensor correlations.     

Novel dielectric anomaly in the hole-doped La(2)Cu(1-x)Li(x)O(4) and La(2-x)Sr(x)NiO(4) insulators: signature of an electronic glassy state

The low-frequency dielectric response of hole-doped insulators La(2)Cu(1-x)Li(x)O(4) and La(2-x)Sr(x)NiO(4) shows a large dielectric constant epsilon(') at high temperature and a steplike drop by a factor of 100 at a material-dependent low temperature T(f). T(f) increases with frequency, and the dielectric response shows universal scaling in a Cole-Cole plot, suggesting that a charge-glass state is realized both in the cuprates and in the nickelates.