Construction,structure and photocatalysis of janus nanofiber modified by g-C3N4 nanosheets heterostructure photocatalysts

The construction of photocatalyst with gradient band structure is guided by the principle of band gap engineering. Rational structural design is advanced and applied to construct a new-typed peculiarly structural and functional carbon-based [TiO₂/C]//[Bi₂WO₆/C] Janus nanofiber modified by g-C₃N₄ nanosheets heterostructure photocatalyst (denoted as TB-JgHP). The flexible carbon-based [TiO₂/C]//[Bi₂WO₆/C] Janus nanofiber with one side responding to ultraviolet light and the other capturing visible light is fabricated by conjugate electrospinning, and then g-C₃N₄ nanosheets are uniformly grown in-situ on the surface of the Janus nanofibers by using gas-solid reaction via gasification of urea. The optimized TB-JgHP possesses remarkable hydrogen evolution efficiency (17.48 mmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) and methylene blue degradation rate (99.2%) under simulated sunlight illumination for 100 min, demonstrating prominent dual-functional characteristics. The enhanced photocatalytic performance benefits from the unique Janus structure as well as the synergistic effects among the triple heterostructures of TiO₂ and Bi₂WO₆, g-C₃N₄ and TiO₂, g-C₃N₄ and Bi₂WO₆. The formation of gradient band structure among heterostructures is more conducive to the multi-step separation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs and more effective absorption of light. Further, flexible self-standing carbon-based photocatalysts not only have outstanding electron transport performance, but also are easy to separate from solution with preeminent recyclable stability. Based on a series of characterization techniques, it is further proved that TB-JgHP has higher carrier separation efficiency than the counterpart contrast samples. The formation mechanism of TB-JgHP is proposed, and the construction technique is established. The design philosophy and construction technique presented in this work pave a new avenue for research and development of other heterostructure photocatalysts.     

Mg0.5NixZn0.5-xFe2O4 spinel as a sustainable magnetic nano-photocatalyst with dopant driven band shifting and reduced recombination for visible and solar degradation of Reactive Blue-19

Focussing on visible light active ferrites for high performance removal of noxious pollutants, we report the synthesis of Mg_0.5Ni_xZn_0.5-xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, & 0.5) ferrite nanoparticle for degradation of reactive blue-19 (RB-19). Lattice parameters calculated using intense X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks and Nelson-Riley plots (N-R plot) are in well agreement with each other. The sample Mg_0.5Ni_0.4Zn_0.1Fe₂O₄ (M5N4) exhibits best performance with 99.5% RB-19 degradation in 90 min under visible light. Photoluminescence (PL) results confirm that recombination of charge carriers is highly reduced in the photocatalyst. Scavenging experiments suggest that O₂⁻ radicals were the dominant species responsible for photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic mechanism was explained in terms of dopant driven shifting of conduction bands and valence bands (calculated by Mott-Schottky plots). The thermodynamic probability of radical generation along with role of redox cycles of metal ions has been discussed in the mechanism. The dye degradation was ascertained by detection of intermediates via mass spectrometry analysis and a possible degradation route was also predicted. The findings in this work provide intriguing opportunities to modify the electronic band structure of spinel ferrites for visible and solar light photocatalytic activity for environmental detoxification.     

一维普鲁士蓝/硅藻土复合材料对Cs+的吸附

含137Cs的放射性废水处理在核能及核技术应用中具有重要意义。以表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化钾和十二烷基磺酸钠为模版，合成了一维结构的普鲁士蓝并将其附着在硅藻土表面，制备成一维普鲁士蓝/硅藻土复合材料；在不同的温度、吸附时间、pH值下，分别探究了一维普鲁士蓝/硅藻土复合材料对Cs⁺的吸附性能，并研究了溶液中其他阳离子对吸附的影响。结果表明：一维普鲁士蓝/硅藻土对Cs⁺的吸附能力随温度（293～318 K）的升高而增加（从42.4 mg/L到61.6 mg/L），其吸附行为符合Langmuir等温线和准二级动力学方程。     

中国古瓷中的明青花牡丹纹的艺术特征

牡丹纹作为为元明清青花瓷中重要的装饰之一最晚出现瓷器不过宋代,布局和绘画方式变化多样。主要特点为枝叶舒展或是多枝相交,花朵怒放被枝头环抱。明朝时期也是青花瓷发展的一个重要阶段,本文通过对现存明朝时期的青花牡丹纹饰例,分别分析不同风格和技法的青花牡丹纹饰,从而论证其艺术特色,以及对后期造成的影响。     

Assessing the quality of inspection for tapered aircraft fastener holes using an engineer’s blue contact test

Tapered interference-fit fasteners (e.g. Taper-lok) are commonly used by the aerospace industry due to their high fatigue strength. The inspection relies on a ‘true’ geometry gauge coated with a thin film of engineer’s blue being brought firmly into contact with the tapered hole. The pattern created on the gauge is then used to identify bearing surface area and distribution. This research investigates if the inspection reflects the hole geometry, and under what conditions the inspection may be assumed valid. The results show that the shade of the blue on the gauge as inspected through computer vision correlates with the unloaded geometry evaluated via a roundness tester, in particular when the red channel is taken alone. The inspection method falls short of accurately representing small features, particularly those tangential to the gauge removal direction. Thresholding visually or by computer vision may reasonably be used to identify the contact region pattern, however factors limiting blue migration mean the contact area may appear smaller than it actually is.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of Ag2CO3-TiO2 loaded reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites with highly efficient photocatalytic activity

Abstract

In this work, a growth of Ag₂CO₃-TiO₂ NPs over GO sheets and reduction of GO were simultaneously achieved by the hydrothermal process at 130 °C for 4?h. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared Ag₂CO₃-TiO₂ NPs decorated reduced graphene oxide (Ag₂CO₃-TiO₂/rGO) composite was studied by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution under visible light irradiation. A remarkable enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂ was achieved after sensitizing with Ag₂CO₃ and loading in rGO sheets which is attributed to the reduced charge recombination, enhanced dye adsorption, and the improvement in the light harvesting capacity of the composite.     

Analysis of trace methylene blue in fish muscles using ultra-sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an emerging technology with great potential for sensitive and rapid analysis of trace methylene blue (MB) in fish muscle. Five different SERS substrates including two commercial nanostructured surface substrates and three types of Au nanoparticles (NPs) with different diameters were compared to optimize enhancement effects. The highest sensitivity with the lowest detection limit of 5 ng/mL for MB standard solutions and 10 ng/g for MB in fish muscles was achieved using the 18 ± 2 nm Au NPs. Partial least squares regression models developed for quantitative analysis showed high linear correlation between the actual and predicted values for MB (R2 cv = 0.958, RPD = 4.84, RMSE = 6.97 ng/g) in fish muscle. Since Au NPs are easy to prepare, stable and affordable, the high sensitivity and predictability of this method has the potential to be widely used for trace analysis of prohibited drug residues in fish and potentially other foods or biological samples.     

Using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) to determine the provenance of the cobalt pigment of Qinghua porcelain from Jingdezhen in Yuan Dynasty of China (1271–1368AD)

The provenance of cobalt mineral of the blue decoration in Yuan Qinghua porcelain would reveal the technological and cultural interaction between ancient China and the Islamic world. However, the limitation of conventional methods in the determining trace elements of the blue decoration hampered the deep research on provenance of the cobalt mineral. In the paper, we employed the good advantage of Laser-ablation-inductively-coupled-plasma-mass-spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) to determine the major element and trace elements of blue decoration of the different type of Qinghua successfully. The blue decoration of all different types of samples shared the same characteristics of higher FeO and lower Mn, which suggested the potter adopted the non-native cobalt material of China to paint the Yuan Qinghua in Jingdezheng, and the difference on the outside appearance of blue decoration of different samples were supposed to be related to the tenor of ore, the different treatment process of cobalt material and the firing process in the kiln. In addition, the significant differences on the element concentrations of Cu, Ni, Pb, Zr and Sb in the blue decoration between Yuan Qinghua and the Islamic blue and white wares of 13–14th century provided a new evidence to discuss the provenance of the cobalt of Yuan Qinghua porcelain.     

Cr2WO6 nanoparticles prepared by hydrothermal assisted method with selective adsorption properties for methylene blue in water

Cr₂WO₆ nanocrystallites were prepared using a facile hydrothermal assisted process. The microstructures and preferential adsorption performance for methylene blue (MB) of the prepared nanoparticles were investigated using a solid state reaction resulted in Cr₂WO₆ crystallites as a baseline. Their structural information were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometer, transmission electron microscopy, N₂–sorption BET surface area, thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimeters. Results show that the Cr₂WO₆ nanocrystallines with ~50 nm in size are achieved by calcination at 650 °C for only 2 h using a hydrothermal product as precursor, while the micrometer sized Cr₂WO₆ crystallites synthesized by the solid state reaction at higher temperature (950 °C) for at least 20 h. For the as-prepared Cr₂WO₆ nanocrystallines, the adsorption performance were tested using methyl orange (MO), Rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB). The adsorption ability was found to be in the order of MB>>RhB>MO owing to electrostatic interactions between the adsorbent and the dye. Results of this study provide a kind of promising alternative adsorbent for color removal from industrial wastewaters.     

Electrochemical growth of tin(II) oxide films: Application in photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

We have investigated the semiconducting and photoelectrochemical properties of SnO films grown potentiostatically on tin substrate. The oxide is characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The anodic process corresponds to the formation of SnO·nH₂O pre-passive layer that is removed upon increasing potential due to surface etching at the metal/oxide interface. SnO films deposited for long durations (>50 mn) are uniform and well adhered; they thicken up to ~50 nm by diffusion-controlled process and the growth follows a direct logarithmic law. The thickness is determined by coulometry and the X-ray diffraction indicates the tetragonal SnO phase (SG: P4/mmm) with a crystallite size of 32 nm. The Mott–Schottky plot is characteristic of n type conductivity with an electrons density of 5.72×10¹⁸ cm⁻³, a flat band potential of −0.09 V_SCE and a depletion width of ~10 nm. The valence band, located at 5.91 eV below, vacuum is made up of hybridized O²⁻:2p Sn²⁺:5s while the conduction band (4.45 eV) derives from Sn²⁺:5p orbital. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measured in the range (10⁻²–10⁵ Hz) shows the contribution of the bulk and grain boundaries. The energy band diagram predicts the photodegradation of methylene blue on SnO films. 67% of the initial concentration (10 mg L⁻¹) disappears after 3 h of exposure to visible light (9 mW cm⁻²) with a quantum yield of 0.072.