An efficient lasing action from pyrromethene 556 dye-doped organically modified silicates

Organically modified solid-state silicates (ORMOSILS) doped with a new laser dye 1,3,5,7,8-pentamethylpyrromethene-2,6-disulfonate-BF₂ complex (pyrromethene 556) have been synthesized by a sol-gel method and the compositional effects on pore characteristics, fluorescence and lasing properties have been investigated. It is found that the use of dimethylsulfoxide and γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane could greatly change the structure properties of sol-gel derived ORMOSILS cage, and thus the fluorescence and lasing properties of the materials could improve significantly. A successful laser oscillation from this dye-doped ORMOSILS sample has been achieved upon pumping with a Q-switched frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm. A slope efficiency of 54% with a useful lifetime greater than 10,000 shots has been demonstrated at a pump repetition rate of 1 Hz and a pump intensity of 1 J/cm² by using the new ORMOSILS cage on our newly designed laser system. Our results have shown that it is possible to obtain a high-efficiency with a long-lifetime for a compact new laser device by low cost dye-doped solid-state ORMOSILS.     

Gain competition effect in dual-wavelength dye lasers

In this paper, we present a theoretical model for the gain competition in dual-wavelength dye lasers. For this purpose the rate equations under the steady-state conditions have been used. The degree of the gain competition is shown to depend on the polarization of the two laser beams. The dependence of the gain competition on various working parameters such as pumping power, dye concentration and the reorientation rate of the molecules or solvent viscosity is studied for two different cases of parallel and orthogonal polarizations. The results of our model show dramatically different behaviors in the two proposed cases.     

Characterization of mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO2 photocatalysts synthesized via a sol-solvothermal process at a low temperature

Nanocrystalline TiO₂ samples with mesoporous structure were prepared via a solvothermal treatment of surfactant-stabilized TiO₂ sols. The samples were obtained from media of different acidities including nitric acid, deionized water, and ammonia (denoted as HT-1, HT-2 and HT-3, respectively). These samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂-sorption (BET surface area), micro-Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activities of the samples were tested by the self-photosensitized degradation of an azo dye, Mordant Yellow 10 (MY), in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The results reveal that all three samples have high surface area and are pure anatase phase. The sample prepared in nitric acid medium possesses the most ideal mesoporous structure and also exhibits a blue shift in the Raman spectrum. All three samples show much higher photocatalytic activity than the commercial P-25. The activity order of the three samples is HT-1>HT-2>HT-3.     

Swelling equilibria and dye adsorption studies of chemically crosslinked superabsorbent acrylamide/maleic acid hydrogels

Superswelling acrylamide (AAm)/maleic acid (MA) hydrogels were prepared by free radical polymerization in aqueous solution of AAm with MA as comonomer with some multifunctional crosslinkers such as trimethylolpropane triacrylate and 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate. AAm/MA hydrogels were used in experiments on swelling and adsorption of a water-soluble monovalent cationic dye such as Basic Blue 17 (Toluidin Blue). As a result of dynamic swelling tests, the influence of relative content of MA on the swelling properties of the hydrogel systems was examined. AAm/MA hydrogels were swollen in the range 1660-6050% in water, while AAm hydrogels swelled in the range 780-1360%. Equilibrium water content of AAm/MA hydrogels were calculated in the range 0.8873-0.9837. Water intake of hydrogels followed a non-Fickian type diffusion. The uptake of the cationic dye, BB-17 to AAm/MA hydrogels is studied by batch adsorption technique at 25 °C. In the experiments of the adsorption equilibrium, S-type adsorption in Giles's classification system was found. The binding ratio of hydrogel/dye systems was gradually increased with the increase of MA content in the AAm/MA hydrogels.     

Composite Electrode SnO2／TiO2 for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Composite nanoporous electrode SnO2/TiO2 was fabricated for the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with N3 (Cis-Ru). After introducing of TiO2, the open-circuit photovoltage (Voc) was higher than that of the pure SnO2 electrode, while short-circuit photocurrent (Isc) was varied with the ratio of the TiO2. Appropriate content of the TiO2 can be beneficial to the efficiency of the solar cell, and it gives negative impact on the composite electrode when the content of TiO2 is higher.     

Cathodic stripping voltammetric detection and determination at a hanging mercury-drop electrode of dye contaminants in purified biomaterials: study of the human serum albumin and reactive dye 120 system

Procion red HE-3B (RR120) is an example of dye currently used in affinity purification. A method is described for determining trace amounts of RR120 dye contaminant in human serum albumin by cathodic stripping voltammetry. The method is based on a measure of a well-defined peak at −0.58 V, obtained when samples of HSA protein (0.01-2% w/v) containing dye concentrations are submitted to a heating time of 330 min at 80 °C in NaOH, pH 12.0 and the samples are removed to a solution containing Britton-Robinson buffer, pH 4.0. Using an optimum accumulation potential and time of 0 V and 240 s, respectively, linear calibration curves were obtained from 1.0×10⁻⁹ to 1.0×10⁻⁸ mol l⁻¹ for RR120 dye. Leakage/hydrolysis of reactive red 120 from an agarose support (e.g. at pH 2 or 12) can also be conveniently determined at very low levels (sub-μg ml⁻¹) by means of cathodic stripping voltammetry, which involves adsorptive accumulation of the dye onto the hanging mercury-drop electrode.     

Enhanced visible-light-driven photodegradation of Acid Orange 7 azo dye in aqueous solution using Fe-N co-doped TiO2

FeN -co-doped TiO₂ photocatalysts are prepared by sol–gel method using titanium tetraisopropoxide, urea and iron(II) acetylacetonate as precursors of titania, nitrogen and iron, respectively. The prepared samples are analysed from chemical-physical point of view by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), specific surface area measurements and scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). UV–Vis DRS spectra evidence that the co-doping of TiO₂ with N and Fe leads to the narrowing of the band gap value (2.7 eV) with respect to Fe-doped TiO₂ (2.8 eV) and N-doped TiO₂ (2.9–3 eV). XRD patterns show that photocatalysts are mainly in anatase phase and Fe and N ions are successfully incorporated into the TiO₂ lattice. The average crystallite size of Fe-N co-doped TiO₂ is slightly lower than the other samples and equal to about 7 nm and the specific surface area of the co-doped sample results to be 117 m² g⁻¹. Photocatalytic performances of all prepared samples are evaluated by analysing the degradation of Acid Orange 7 azo dye under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic efficiency obtained using FeN co-doped TiO₂ strongly increases compared to undoped TiO₂, N-doped TiO₂ and Fe-doped TiO₂ photocatalysts. In detail, using the co-doped photocatalyst, dye discoloration and mineralization result equal to about 90 and 83% after 60 min of LEDs visible light irradiation, underlining the best performances of the FeN co-doped TiO₂ photocatalyst both in terms of treatment time and electric energy consumption.     

刚果红和结晶紫在锯末上的吸附性能研究

采用静态吸附法研究了刚果红和结晶紫在锯末上的吸附特性。结果表明,锯末是具有高脱色率的廉价吸附剂,最大脱色率可达96%。在pH4~10范围内,酸度对结晶紫的吸附影响较小,随着pH值增大,脱色率从96.6%缓慢降至91.1%。pH值对刚果红吸附影响较大,pH从4增大到7,脱色率迅速从22.5%增加至96.0%,然后,随pH值升高脱色率缓慢下降至91.4%。两种染料在锯末上的吸附等温线均较好的符合Freundlich方程,吸附动力学可以用拟二级动力学模型描述。计算了相应的吸附等温线参数和吸附动力学参数。     

Dye-ligand chromatography for the resolution and purification of restriction endonucleases

The resolution of restriction endonucleases from the same microorganism is conventionally achieved by lengthy fractionation protocols. We now report effective single-step procedures that exploit dye-ligand chromatography for the resolution and purification of restriction enzymes. After suitable initial screening, we demonstrated that resolution of two restriction activites can be achieved in one chromatographic step, and further purification can subsequently be effected using selected dye-adsorbents. Accordingly, we resolved in one step, Hpa I from Hpa II, Hind II from Hind III, and Sac I from Sac II. Furthermore, a three-step Chromatographic procedure has been developed to purify EcoRV suitable for commercial exploitation, as judged by the “overdigestion” and “cut-ligate-recut” quality control tests.     

Syntheses of mixed ligands complexes of Ru(II) with 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine and substituted pteridinedione and the use of these complexes in electrochemical photovoltaic cells

The synthesis, spectral and photoelectrochemical studies of mixed ligand complexes of [Ru(dcbpy)₂(LL)]Cl₂, where LL=2,4-(1,3-N,N′-dimethyl)pteridinedione (DMP), 6,7-dimethyl-2,4-(1,3-N,N′-dimethyl)pteridinedione (MDMP), 6,7-diphenyl-2,4-(1,3-N,N′-dimethyl)pteridinedione (PhDMP), dibenzo[h,j]-(1,3-N,N′-dimethyl)isoalloxazine (BIAlo), 6,7-bis(pyrid-2-yl)-2,4-(1,3-N,N′-dimethyl) pteridinedione (PyDMP) were carried out. These complexes were attached to sol–gel processed TiO₂ electrodes and the photocells fabricated were illuminated with polychromatic radiation in the presence of I₂/I₃⁻ as redox electrolyte. The incident photon to current conversion efficiency determined was found to be 20–48%.