Uniformity in radon exhalation from construction materials using can technique

The uniformity in radon exhalation rates for 46 tiles of granite, marble and ceramic used as construction materials were determined using “Can Technique” employing CR-39 nuclear track detectors (NTDs). On each tile, two sealed cans, each enclosing one NTD fixed at the center of the tile surface area covered by the can, were mounted at two different locations of each individual tiles. The track production rates on the NTDs representing radon exhalation rates were measured. The radon exhalation rates from the surface of individual tiles showed uniform exhalations within the calculated uncertainties of the measured values. This makes Can Technique an alternative simple method to measure radon exhalation rates. Calibration required to convert track production rates into radon exhalation rates for the used can and NTD was done using an active technique. The correlation between the measurements by the two techniques shows a good linear correlation coefficient (0.83).     

Photo-induced evolution of copper sheets from cluster molecules and its application to photolithographic copper patterning

UV photoexcitation of (t-butylethynyl copper)₂₄ cluster films induces segregation of the crystals into metallic and organic phases and leads to evolve the metallic sheets sandwiched by organic polymers. The growth of the metallic crystals in the plane of the photo-electromagnetic field is attributed due to plasmon-plasmon interaction among nanoparticles embedded in dielectric polymer matrices. The surface enhanced photochemical reaction of residual cluster molecules on the photon incident direction is expected to take an important role for joining the metal particles to produce a metallic sheet. We can apply this phenomenon for photolithographic copper pattern generation on a flexible base plate.     

Thermal conductance for single wall carbon nanotubes

We report a theoretical analysis of the phonon thermal conductance, κ(T), for single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCN). In a range of low temperatues up to 100 K, κ(T) of perfect SWCN is found to increase with temperature, approximately, in a parabolic fashion. This is qualitatively consistent with recent experimental measurements where the tube-tube interactions are negligibly weak. When the carbon-carbon bond length is slightly varied, κ(T) is found to be qualitatively unaltered which implies that the anharmonic effect does not change the qualitative behavior of κ(T). Received 12 June 2001     

Thermal and chemical nanofractal relaxation

We studied shape relaxation of nano-fractal islands, during annealing, after their growth from antimony cluster deposition on graphite surface. Annealing at 180^°C shows evidence of an increase of the fractal branch width with time followed by branch fragmentation, without changing the fractal dimension. The time evolution of the width of the arm suggests the surface self-diffusion mechanism as the main relaxation process. With Monte Carlo simulations, we confirmed the observed behavior. Comparison is done with our previous results on fragmentation of nano-fractal silver islands when impurity added to the incident cluster promotes rapid fragmentation by surface self-diffusion enhancement [1].     

A comparative study on the interaction between tin(II) porphyrin and selected group 8B metals for potential application as reduction catalysts

We study the interaction between tin(II) porphyrin (SnPor) with platinum and non-precious Group 8B metals (iron, cobalt and nickel) by density functional theory and discuss the electronic properties of the resulting products. We also model the interaction of the resulting compounds with water where applicable. Our studies indicate that, SnPor-Ni possesses electronic properties similar to SnPor-Pt, suggesting that it may possess similar photocatalytic properties for reduction reactions, such as converting water to hydrogen gas.     

Effects of Nb2O5 on thermal stability and optical properties of Er3+-doped tellurite glasses

Er³⁺-doped tellurite glasses with molar compositions of xNb₂O₅-(14.7-x)Na₂O--10ZnO--5K₂O--10GeO₂-- 60TeO₂--0.3Er₂O₃ (x=0, 3, 5, 7 and 9) have been investigated for developing 1.5~μm fibre and planar amplifiers. The effects of Nb₂O₅ on the thermal stability and optical properties of Er³⁺-doped tellurite glasses have been discussed. It is noted that the incorporation of Nb₂O₅ (x=5) increases the thermal stability of tellurite glasses significantly. Er³⁺-doped niobium tellurite glasses exhibit a large stimulated emission cross-section (7.2\times 10^-21- 10.7×10^-21~cm² and the gain bandwidth, FWHM×\sigma_e^{\rm peak} (274\times 10^-28 - 480×10^-28~cm³), which are significantly higher than that of silicate and phosphate glasses. In addition, the intensity of upconversion luminescence of the Er³⁺-doped niobium tellurite glasses decreases rapidly with increasing Nb₂O₅ content. As a result, Er³⁺-doped niobium tellurite glasses might be a potential candidate for developing laser or optical amplifier devices.     

基于LiCo0.8M0.2O2 (M=Ni,Zr)薄膜的全固态薄膜锂电池

用射频磁控溅射结合传统退火的方法制备LiCo0.8M0.2O2 (M=Ni,Zr)阴极薄膜．X射线衍射、拉曼光谱、扫描电子显微镜等手段表征了不同掺杂的LiCo0.8M0.2O2薄膜．结果显示,700℃退火的LiCo0.8M0．2O2薄膜具有类似α-NaFeO2的层状结构．通过对不同掺杂锂钴氧阴极的全固态薄膜锂电池Li／LiPON／LiCo0.8M0.2O2的电化学性能研究表明,电化学活性元素Ni的掺杂使全固态电池具有更大的放电容量(56μAh／cm2μm),而非电化学活性元素Zr的掺杂使全固态电池具有更好的循环稳定性．     

Optical spectroscopy of Yb/Er codoped NaY(WO4)2 crystal

Erbium and ytterbium codoped double tungstates NaY(WO₄)₂ crystals were prepared by using Czochralski (CZ) pulling method. The absorption spectra in the region 290-2000 nm have been recorded at room temperature. The Judd-Ofelt theory was applied to the measured values of absorption line strengths to evaluate the spontaneous emission probabilities and stimulated emission cross sections of Er³⁺ ions in NaY(WO₄)₂ crystals. Intensive green and red lights were measured when the sample were pumped by a 974 nm laser diode (LD), especially, the intensities of green upconversion luminescence are very strong. The mechanism of energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ ions was analyzed. Energy transfer and nonradiative relaxation played an important role in the upconversion process. Photoexcited luminescence experiments are also fulfilled to help analyzing the transit processes of the energy levels.