Kinetic and thermodynamic studies on the adsorption behavior of Rhodamine B dye on Duolite C-20 resin

The adsorption behavior of Rhodamine B dye from aqueous solutions was investigated onto the cation-exchange resin, Duolite C-20 (hydrogen form). The effects of various experimental factors; sorbent amount, contact time, dye concentration and temperature, were studied by using the batch technique. Lagergren pseudo-first-order equation shows good applicability with high correlation coefficients for all ranges of initial dye concentrations and at different temperatures. This equation was used to describe the kinetics of the dye adsorption process. The adsorption constants were evaluated by using both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Thermodynamic parameters were obtained and it was found that the adsorption of Rhodamine B dye onto Duolite C-20 resin was an endothermic and spontaneous process at the temperatures under investigation.     

Photoelectric response of thiamonomethinecyanine J-aggregate nanoribbons deposited via dielectrophoresis technique

Different dyes can produce the two-dimensional self-assembled structures called J- and H-aggregates that make them attractive material for various nano-electronics applications. This paper shows that electrokinetic deposition technique of cyanine dye J-aggregates is appropriate for the photoelectric devices production. The influence of excitation in visible on conductivity is observed in J-aggregate channel structure deposited using dielectrophoresis technique. The effect was observed in self-assembled thiamonomethinecyanine nanostructures. Samples were analyzed using AFM and micro-Raman spectroscopy methods. Analysis shows that photoelectric response must be the result of conductive channel formation in the structure of J-aggregate between the electrodes. The observed increase in conductivity manifold exceeds the structure dark conductivity: maximal increase comprised 6.3 times.     

Luminescence characterisation of alumina substrates using cathodoluminescence microscopy and spectroscopy

Polycrystalline alumina (Al₂O₃) substrates, found in many electronic devices and proposed as dosemeters in emergency situations, were invstigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with cathodoluminescence (CL) and elemental analysis probes. The characteristics of the CL spectra, surface morphology, and impurity content of the Al₂O₃ substrates were examined and compared with those of single crystal dosimetry-grade Al₂O₃:C. Whereas the CL spectrum, measured from 250 to 800 nm, for the Al₂O₃:C, contained resolved bands located at ∼340 nm and at ∼410 nm, the spectrum measured with the Al₂O₃ substrate was significantly broader, extending from ∼250 to ∼450 nm, and also included a narrow band at 695 nm. While it is likely that the accepted model of recombination at F⁺ (∼340 nm) and F (∼410 nm) in Al₂O₃:C also applies to the substrate, it is suggested that the presence of impurities within the alumina give rise to additional recombination centres. The 695 nm emission has been assigned to a Cr³⁺ ion impurity in previous work on alumina and a band indicated at ∼300 nm may be associated with Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺_, the presence of which was confirmed by elemental mapping. Comparison of the spatial distribution of CL with the surface morphology and elemental composition of the samples indicates that the components of the emission spectrum can be qualitatively correlated with impurity content and morphological features of the samples.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Thiophene Copolymer for Photovoltaic Application

A soluble thiophene copolymer having polar and non polar side groups was synthesized and its photovoltaics performance was investigated. The synthesized copolymer was characterized using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and optical spectroscopy. Dye sensitized solar cells were fabricated using this copolymer as sensitizer. An open-circuit voltage of 0.50V, a short-circuit current density of 1.195 mA/cm² and an overall power conversion efficiency of 0.3% were measured.     

Study on Dyeing Properties of Functional Acrylic Fiber

Anti‐mite acrylic fiber is a new type of functional fiber which incorporates a small amount of anti‐mite agent. Basic dye can be used in the dyeing of the functional acrylic fiber. Compared with the dyeing properties of conventional fibers, the dyeing properties of the functional acrylic fiber have new characteristics such as different dyeing temperature, time, amount of leveling agent and pH level due to the rough surface and larger size of micro‐channels in the functional fiber structure that helps basic dye molecules to diffuse into the fiber.     

ZnFe2O4/Ag/TiO2复合材料的制备及其光催化性能

以硝酸银、钛酸四丁酯、无水氯化锌、六水氯化铁为原料,采用溶胶-凝胶法与溶剂热相结合的方法制备了ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂复合材料,通过扫描电子显微镜、能谱分析仪、X射线粉末衍射仪、X射线光电子能谱仪、振动样品磁强计、紫外可见分光光度计对样品进行表征及测试。结果表明： ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂-10具有最佳的光催化效果,在紫外和可见光下对染料的降解率都能达到90%以上,具有优异的紫外可见光光催化活性。ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂具有独特的磁性,能在外部磁场作用下进行回收利用,这使其在实际应用中成为可能。通过磁分离技术重复回收利用5次后仍然保持优良的光催化性能,说明ZnFe₂O₄/Ag/TiO₂-10具有优异的磁性及较高的光催化循环稳定性。     

骨架结构多孔TiO2薄膜增强染料敏化太阳能电池性能

以空心球状TiO₂为基体、以片状TiO₂为骨架,采用刮刀法制备了染料敏化太阳能电池的多孔TiO₂光阳极薄膜。光电转化效率测试结果表明,当作为骨架支撑材料的片状TiO₂含量为20wt%时,光阳极薄膜组装成太阳能电池的光电转化效率达到最高值4.53%,比商业P25制备的无孔无骨架TiO₂薄膜电池(4.06%)及无骨架结构的多孔TiO₂薄膜电池(4.17%)的性能均有显著提高。当片状TiO₂的最佳含量为20wt%电池薄膜厚度为33 μm时,太阳能电池光电转化效率进一步提升为7.06%。光电性能增强的原因是骨架结构有利于快速传输电子并增大染料吸附量。本研究通过设计制备具有骨架结构的多孔TiO₂薄膜为提高染料敏化太阳能电池性能提供了新的思路。     

Synthesis,Characterization and Properties of a Novel Environmentally Friendly Mono Azo Disperse Dye and Its Application on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

The aim of this research is to achieve the synthesis of a novel mono azo disperse dye containing both a β‐naphthyl acetate group and carboxylic acid ester group and application on PET fabric. In this study the dyeing properties have also been investigated. The synthesized dye was characterized using UV‐Vis, FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques. To investigate alkali‐clearability, both alkali‐hydrolysis behavior and the effect of its fastness properties with regard to PET fabric were examined. This dye showed a reasonable level of hydrolysis under relatively mild alkaline conditions. The application of the dye to PET fabric showed good leveling and building up properties. Estimating fastness properties of the dyed fabric showed excellent wash, rubbing fastness, good light and sublimation fastness. The results furthermore displayed that the synthesized dye offers the option of alkali‐clearing process over that of a conventional reduction‐clearing process. Therefore, the value of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and water pollution as well as the expenditure of production were decreased.     

The electronic structures and charge transfer properties of tetra(naphthalene‐dione)porphyrins and tetra(naphthalene‐dithione)porphyrins as dye‐sensitized solar cell skeleton

The p‐π conjugation of tetra(naphthalene‐dione)porphyrins and tetra(naphthalene‐dithione)porphyrins is clarified on the basis of density functional theory studies. When carbonyl/thionyl is introduced, π bonds on the molecular skeleton become strong–weak alternated, and the conjugation transforms from “benzene‐type” to “butadiene‐type.” The unidirectional photon‐induced current associated with the p‐π conjugation enables the light‐harvesting efficiency of this kind of molecular skeleton reaches 90% in the range of 300–800 nm. Therefore, these compounds are ideal alternative for panchromatic dye‐sensitized solar cells. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Micellar Enhanced Ultrafiltration of Reactive Black 5 from Aqueous Solution by Cationic Surfactants

Reactive black 5 (RB-5) dye was removed from a water stream using two cationic surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), via micellar enhanced ultrafiltration. Three membranes with different pore size were used for the determination of rejection coefficient and permeate flux of the solution at 1.5 bar trans-membrane pressure (TMP). The two surfactants (CPC and CTAB) played an almost negligible role in rejection efficiency with 5000 and 10,000 molecular weight cut-off membrane (MWCO), respectively. In this case, high rejection and low permeate flux was the result of a larger molecular size of RB-5 DYE being retained by comparatively smaller sized pores of membrane via ultrafiltration. However, CPC and CTAB surfactants showed 83% and 98% rejection coefficient, respectively, at a concentration greater than their CMC values against 30,000 MWCO. Permeate flux remained low and constant in presence of 5000 and 10,000 MWCO with a small variation against 30,000 MWCO for the two surfactants, thereby no appreciable effect on both surfactant concentrations on concentration polarization was estimated. Thus, RB-5 dye alone was determined to be responsible for membrane plugging or concentration polarization and ultimately for low permeate flux. The effect of trans-membrane pressure was also investigated during this study.