Enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO2 particles via effect of anatase–rutile ratio

In the present work anatase–rutile transformation temperature and its effect on physical/chemical properties as well as photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ particles were investigated. The characterisation of the synthesised and annealed TiO₂ particles were determined by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis (BET). The refraction in the ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) range was assessed using a dual-beam spectrophotometer. The photocatalytic performance of the particles was tested on methylene blue solution. The XRD data indicated that the percentage of rutile increased with the annealing temperature and almost 100% of anatase transformed to rutile at 1000 °C. In addition, the phase transformation was a linear function of annealing temperature so phase composition of TiO₂ can be controlled by changing the annealing temperature. The SEM and BET results presented the increase of agglomerate size and the decrease of specific surface area with the increasing annealing temperature. This proved that anatase has smaller particle size and higher surface area than rutile. The photocatalytic activity of the annealed TiO₂ powders reduced with the increase of annealing temperature. The samples annealed at 900 °C and 925 °C with anatase: rutile ratio of 92:8 and 77:23, respectively, showed the best activity. These results suggested that the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ particles is a function of phase composition. Thus it can be enhanced by changing its phase composition which can be controlled by annealing temperature.     

二氧化碳从它溶胀后的聚合物中的解吸

研究了经过４０℃,８．０￣１４．０ＭＰａ的超临界二氧化碳溶胀后的６种聚合物ＬＤＰＥ、ＰＰ、ＰＡ６、ＥＶＡ、ＰＵ中的ＣＯ２解吸情况,模拟了聚合物中ＣＯ２的解吸规律,即以时间的自然指数递减规律,并根据Ｆｉｃｋ扩散定理从理论上推导出ＣＯ２在聚合物中的解吸方程,由解吸方程计算解吸扩散系数,结果表明ＣＯ２的解吸扩散系数数量级达１０＾－７ｃｍ＾２／ｓ,解吸扩散系数与ＣＯ２在聚合物中的浓度和温度以及解吸前聚合物     

基于非分散红外(NDIR)技术的土壤剖面二氧化碳浓度的测定

为了探索土壤剖面CO₂浓度以及不同土壤层(腐殖质H层、A层、B层、C层)土壤呼吸的变化规律,应用非分散红外(NDIR)技术的新方法,持续不间断的测量土壤剖面二氧化碳浓度。实验所用的主要仪器为硅基非分散红外测量仪,能在高湿、高粉尘、污垢及其他恶劣环境中进行光谱数据采集。通过2013年全年光谱测定值的采集,并应用梯度法模型计算不同深度土壤碳通量,同时利用LI-8100碳通量自动监测系统持续监测的土壤碳通量值进行回归分析。结果显示：土壤剖面CO₂浓度呈现明显的梯度变化,即随着土壤深度的增加,土壤CO₂浓度增大;梯度法模型得出的不同土壤层的土壤呼吸模拟值与实测土壤呼吸值之间具有较好的线性相关,H,A,B,C层的模型预测的决定系数(R2)分别为0.906 9,0.718 5,0.838 2,0.903 0,均方根误差(RMSE)分别为0.206 7,0.104 1,0.015 6,0.009 6。均达到了较好的预测结果,表明该方法对定量分析不同土壤层碳通量是可行的。该方法具有清晰揭示土壤CO₂在不同土壤层之间的传输规律,以及有助于分析不同土壤层土壤呼吸特性的优点,能为全球土壤剖面碳通量计算提供基础数据,是一种具有发展前途的传感器。     

Observation of insulating–insulating monoclinic structural transition in macro‐sized VO2 single crystals [Phys. Status Solidi RRL 5, No. 3, R107–R109 (2011)]

In our article, we reported the observation of monoclinic M2 to M1 structural phase transition in VO₂ single crystal near the temperature of ～49 °C. However, the re‐examination of Laue patterns reveals that previously defined monoclinic M1 and M2 phases can be interpreted as monoclinic M2 and triclinic T phases instead. Careful experimental geometry calibration and further refinement of the lattice parameter ratios and angles show that monoclinic M2 and triclinic T phases fit better with the experimental data. On the other hand, our previous misidentification of the insulating phases does NOT affect the conclusions of our article. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Oxygen transfer processes in (La,Sr)MnO3/Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2 cathodes: an impedance spectroscopy study

Impedance spectroscopy was used to study the oxygen reaction kinetics of La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ (LSM)-based electrodes on Y₂O₃-stabilized ZrO₂ (YSZ) electrolytes. Three types of electrodes were studied: pure LSM, LSM–YSZ composites, and LSM/LSM–YSZ bilayers. The electrodes were formed by spin coating and sintering on single-crystal YSZ substrates. Measurements were taken at temperatures ranging from 550 to 850°C and oxygen partial pressures from 1×10⁻³ to 1 atm. An arc whose resistance R_el had a high activation energy, E_a=1.61±0.05 eV, and a weak oxygen partial pressure dependence, (P_O2)^−1/6, was observed for the LSM electrodes. A similar arc was observed for LSM–YSZ electrodes, where R_el(P_O2)^−0.29 and the activation energy was 1.49±0.02 eV. The combination of a high activation energy and a weak P_O2 dependence was attributed to oxygen dissociation and adsorption rate-limiting steps for both types of electrodes. LSM–YSZ composite cathodes showed substantially lower overall interfacial resistance values than LSM, but exhibited an additional arc attributed to the resistance of YSZ grain boundaries within the LSM–YSZ. At 850°C and low P_O2, an additional arc was observed with size varying as (P_O2)^−0.80 for LSM and (P_O2)^−0.57 for LSM–YSZ, suggesting that diffusion had become an additional rate limiting step. Bilayer LSM/LSM–YSZ electrodes yielded results intermediate between LSM and LSM–YSZ. The results showed that most of the improvement in electrode performance was achieved for a LSM–YSZ layer only ≈2 μm thick. However, a decrease in the grain-boundary resistance would produce much better performance in thicker LSM–YSZ electrodes.     

Total electron scattering cross sections for carbon dioxide at low electron energies

Absolute total electron scattering cross sections for carbon dioxide have been measured at low electron energies using a photoelectron source. The measurements have been carried out at 27 electron energies varying from 0.91–9.14 eV with an accuracy of ±3%. The cross sections obtained in the present experiment have been compared with other measurements and theoretical computations.     

Mathematical modeling of TE CO2 laser with SF6 as a saturable absorber

A mathematical model describing the dynamic emission of a single mode TE CO₂ laser with saturable absorber has been adapted. A six-temperature model has been used to describe the amplifying medium, while a four-coupled energy level is used to describe the selective absorbing medium. The suggested mathematical model allows the investigation of the effects of the intracavity absorber on the mode characteristics of the TE CO₂ laser and, moreover, the study of the effect of the laser input parameters on the output laser pulse. The model simulates the passive Q-switch in both low- and high-pressure cases in the absorbing medium.

In addition, numerical solutions of a non-linear rate equation system of the suggested model are quantitatively discussed. The solutions describe the photon number density, the population inversion and the energy transfer processes of amplifying and absorbing media.     

锐钛矿和金红石二氧化钛中光生载流子的超快动力学：电声相互作用研究

本文结合玻尔兹曼输运方程和电声散射速率计算研究锐钛矿和金红石二氧化钛中光生载流子的超快动力学过程. 其中,动力学模拟所需的结构参数均通过第一性原理计算获得. 结果表明,由于存在强Fr?hlich型电声耦合,纵光学声子模对两个晶相的能量弛豫过程均有十分显著的影响,但是两个晶相的弛豫机理却表现出明显的差异. 对于单条导带内的弛豫过程,锐钛矿和金红石的能量弛豫时间分别为24.0 fs和11.8 fs,前者约为后者的二倍. 这一差异来源于两个晶相中不同的电子扩散分布以及不同的声学模散射贡献. 对于涉及多条导带的弛豫过程,预测的锐钛矿和金红石的总体弛豫时间分别为47 fs和57 fs,其相对大小与单条导带的情况相反. 分析表明金红石相弛豫较慢是因为存在多个速率控制步骤. 这些发现为调控电子动力学以及设计高效的二氧化钛器件提供了有价值的信息.     

Enhanced β Crystalline Phase in Poly(vinylidene fluoride) via the Incorporation of Graphene Oxide Sheets assisted by Supercritical CO2 Treatment

Graphene oxide (GO) sheets were pre-modified with a typical piezoelectric polymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), using a simple supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO₂) method, and then the PVDF-decorated GO was added into a PVDF matrix by solution blending. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the decorating degree of PVDF on the surface of the GO increased significantly with increasing of SC CO₂ pressure and PVDF concentration. The mechanism of the polymer adsorption on the GO sheets through favorable interaction between the GO and PVDF chains was identified via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Further, the crystallization behavior of PVDF/GO composites was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), FTIR and polarized optical microscopy (POM). Interestingly, the composite with PVDF-decorated GO as the filler showed higher β-phase content compared to the composite with pristine GO as the filler. The study showed that the supercritical fluid-induced epitaxial crystallization process has significant potential for fabricating functional GO-based nanocomposties containing piezoelectric or conducting materials.     

Post-irradiation sensitization of CR-39 track detector in carbon dioxide atmosphere

The effect of post-irradiation treatment of CR-39 track detector in carbon dioxide atmosphere on the alpha particle registration sensitivity was investigated. Significant increase in etch rate ratio for 6.1 MeV ²⁵²Cf alpha particle was observed. The sensitization increasedboth as a function of trating time and as a function of carbon dioxide pressure in the treating vessel. Energy dependence of the sensitization was found to be small in the 2–9 MeV alpha particle energy interval. Fading of latent tracks after the sensitization process was slow in a one day period. Pre-irradiation treatment in carbon dioxide showed also some sensitization, though to a lesser extent than post-irradiation treatment. However, exposing CR-39 alpha particles in pure carbon dioxide atmosphere resulted in dramatic decrease in sensitivity. The role of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide in the primary latent track formation and in post-irradiation latent track transformation is discussed. Potential influence of the application of sensitization of CR-39 in radon, neutron and cosmic ray charged particle dosimetry is also discussed.