Laser NIR lifetime spectrometer with nanosecond time resolution

A laser lifetime spectrometer (fluorometer) for recording the luminescence kinetics in the range 950–1400 nm with a time resolution of 1 ns is described. The performance capabilities of the facility are demonstrated by an example of studying the near-IR luminescence of molecular singlet oxygen ¹O₂. The fluorometer allows measurements of quenched luminescence of ¹O₂ with a quantum yield of up to 6 × 10⁻⁹.     

Growing HgTe/Cd<Subscript>0.735</Subscript>Hg<Subscript>0.265</Subscript>Te quantum wells by molecular beam epitaxy

HgTe/Cd_0.735Hg_0.265Te nanostructures with HgTe quantum wells 16.2 and 21.0 nm thick are grown without additional doping on (013)CdTe/ZnTe/GaAs substrates by the method of molecular beam epitaxy. The compositions and thicknesses of the wide-gap layer and quantum well in the course of growth are performed by means of ellipsometry. The accuracy is Δx ? ±0.002 mole fractions of cadmium telluride in determining the composition and Δd ? 0.5 nm in determining the thickness of the wide-gap layer and quantum well. The central fragments of the wide-gap layers ≈ 10 nm thick are additionally doped by indium for a ～ 10¹⁵ cm^?3 volume concentration of charge carriers to be reached. Galvanomagnetic research in a wide range of magnetic field intensities at liquid helium temperatures reveals dimensional quantization levels and the presence of a two-dimensional electron gas in grown nanostructures. High mobility of the two-dimensional electron gas μ _e is obtained: 2 · 10⁵ and 5 · 10⁵ cm²/V · s for electron densities N _s equal to 1.5 · 10¹¹ and 3.5 · 10¹¹ cm^?2, respectively.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Uric Acid at a Meso‐2,3‐Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Self‐Assembled Gold Electrode

Abstract

The fabrication and electrochemical characteristics of a meso‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) self‐assembled monolayer modified gold electrode were investigated. The DMSA self‐assembled electrode can enhance the electrochemical stability of uric acid (UA) and the electrochemical reaction of UA on the DMSA electrode has been studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. Some electrochemical parameters, such as diffusion coefficient, standard rate constant, electron transfer coefficient, and protons transfer number have been determined for the electrochemical behavior on the DMSA self‐assembled monolayer electrode. The electrode reaction of UA is an irreversible process which is controlled by the diffusion of UA with two electrons and two protons transfer at the DMSA/Au electrode. In phosphate buffer (pH 5.0), the peak current is proportional to the concentration of UA in the range of 8.0×10^?5?1.0×10^?2 mol L^?1 and 8.0×10^?5?8.0×10^?3 mol L^?1 for the cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry methods with the detection limits of 1×10^?6 and 8×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively. This method can be applied to the determination of the UA concentration.     

Optical transition process in AgOx super-resolution near-field structure

A sandwiched 15 nm AgO_x thin film of the super‐resolution, near‐field optical disk was studied using a confocal Z‐scan system. Nonlinear optical properties of quartz glass/ZnS–SiO₂ (170 nm)/AgO_x (15 nm)/ZnS–SiO₂ (40 nm) were measured using a Q‐switch Nd : YAG pulse laser of wavelength 532 nm, pulse width 0.7 ns, and 15.79 kHz repetition rate. Transmittance and reflectance of the sandwiched AgO_x thin film show important optical responses at the focused position of Z‐scan. The dissociation processes of AgO_x, recombination of the silver and oxygen, and the resonance of the localized surface plasmon of the nano‐composites of the AgO_x thin film are correlated to transmittance and reflectance at the focused position of the Z‐scan for different input laser powers. An irreversible upper threshold intensity of 4.40 × 10⁶ mW cm^?2 at the focused position was found. A reversible working window of the focusing intensity between 1.86 × 10⁶ and 4.40 × 10⁶ mW cm^?2 was measured with sandwiched AgO_x thin film alone. The near‐field interactions of the AgO_x thin film and the recording layers of super‐resolution near‐field optical disk are also discussed.     

An instrument for measuring the intensity and dose of cancerigenic ultraviolet radiation

An instrument for measuring the intensity and dose of cancerigenic radiation from the Sun and artificial sources has been developed. A 4H-SiC Schottky barrier photodetector is used as the sensor. The sensitivity spectrum of the photoelectric transducer lies in the region 240–300 nm and has a maximum at 260 nm. The quantum efficiency is ≈0.3 electrons/photon (at λ = 254 nm), and its temperature coefficient at T = 250–310 K is < 0.1%/°C. The dimensions of the device are 3 × 6 × 11 cm.     

Triboplasma Generation and Triboluminescence: Influence of Stationary Sliding Partner

In this work, the characteristics of triboplasma have been investigated from the point of view of how the kinds of the stationary partner influence the photon energy and the plasma distribution. The energy spectrum and two-dimensional images of the emitted photons were measured during the sliding of a diamond pin with a tip radius of 1.5 and 3 mm on the three kinds of disk made of Al₂O₃, MgO, and SiO₂ in dry sliding in air. The results showed that all the three kinds of solid tested had narrow bands of air-discharge plasma in the ultraviolet region, demonstrating that the triboplasma generation does not depend on the kinds of insulating solids. Triboplasma was distributed having a ring with one or two tails in all the three kinds of solid Al₂O₃, MgO, and SiO₂. The mechanisms of UV, visible, and IR photon emissions are discussed. The UV photons are emitted from the ionized plasma gas produced by discharging of air, while the visible photons are emitted from the defect and impurity centers excited by the triboplasma-photons, triboplasma-electrons, and frictional temperature rise together with the photons from the plasma itself. A 696-nm narrow band appeared only with Al₂O₃, and it was attributed to the Cr³⁺ ions excited by the UV photons and electrons from the triboplasma. The IR photons should be emitted from the sliding contact by the thermal emissions consisting of thermoluminescence and blackbody radiation, as well as from the triboplasma. The visible photon emission was strongest at the pair points facing across the frictional track in Al₂O₃ and MgO. To explain the photon emission at the pair points, a new model has been proposed, in which the visible photons are emitted from the surface defect and/or impurity centers excited by the back electrons accelerated with the inverse electric field caused by the negatively charged patches produced by the electron bombardment to the diamond surface. The negative charges on the frictional track repelled the back electrons, so that the back-electrons attack just outside the frictional track.     

Characterization and application of lornoxicam,europium(III), and lysozyme fluorescence

A novel and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of lornoxicam. The method was based on the fluorescence enhancement of europium(III) by formation of a ternary complex with lornoxicam in the presence of lysozyme as the co-ligand. The fluorescence signal for the lornoxicam-europium (III)-lysozyme system was monitored at an excitation wavelength of 620 nm and an emission wavelength of 390 nm. The parameters affecting the fluorescence intensity were optimized systematically and under these conditions the signal was directly proportional to the concentration of lornoxicam from 9.0 × 10^?5 to 1.0 × 10^?2 µg · mL^?1. The detection limit was 2.7 × 10^?5 µg · mL^?1. The relative standard deviation for thirteen replicate measurements of 1.0 × 10^?3 µg · mL^?1 lornoxicam was 1.8%. This method was employed for the determination of lornoxicam in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids. The mechanism of fluorescence for the lornoxicam-europium(III)-lysozyme system was discussed.     

Fluorescent determination of trinitrotoluene with bovine serum albumin mediated enhancement of thioglycolic acid capped cadmium selenium quantum dots

Abstract

Here, a spectroscopic investigation of the interaction between bovine serum albumin protein and thioglycolic acid capped cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots is presented. Luminescent water-soluble CdSe quantum dots were synthesized at room temperature by a one-step proctocol. Selenium powder and thioglycolic acid were used as the precursor and stabilizer, respectively. The synthesized thioglycolic acid capped CdSe quantum dots were activated by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysuccinimide treatment and conjugated with bovine serum albumin protein. The fluorescence signal of CdSe quantum dots was enhanced proportionally with the bovine serum albumin concentration from 0.25 to 5?µg/mL. This nano-bioconjugate was employed for the determination of trinitrotoluene with a detection limit of 5.65?ppm trinitrotoluene across a linear range of 4.4?×?10^?6 M to 35.2?×?10^?6 M.     

Construction of an Optical Sensor for Cobalt Determination Based on Methyltrioctylammonium Chloride Immobilized on a Polymer Membrane

Abstract

An optical sensor has been designed for the determination of cobalt by spectrophotometry. The sensing membrane is made by immobilizing methyltrioctylammonium chloride on a triacetylcellulose membrane. In the presence of Co(II) and thiocyanate ions, the colorless membrane changes to blue. The response time of the optode was about 7 min. The sensor can readily be regenerated with 0.02 mol L^?1 sodium oxalate solution. This optode is stable and can be stored under water for more than a month without reagent leaching. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 8.5×10^?6–1.3×10^?4 mol L^?1 of Co(II) ion with a limit of detection 5.9×10^?6 mol L^?1. The relative standard deviations for seven replicate measurements of 3.4×10^?5 and 1×10^?4 mol L^?1 of Co(II) were 1.58 and 1.10%, respectively. The sensor was successfully applied to the determination of cobalt in food samples and vitamin B₁₂ ampoule.     

Determination of propyl gallate in edible oil by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection

A novel and convenient method based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with chemiluminescence (HPLC) for the determination of propyl gallate in edible oil is reported. The detection was based on the inhibition of chemiluminescence between luminol and hydrogen peroxide in alkaline solution. The analysis was performed using a C₁₈ column with isocratic 60:40 methanol/water. Under the optimum conditions, the concentration of propyl gallate was linear from 9?×?10^?6?mol?L^?1 to 1?×?10^?4?mol?L^?1 with a detection limit of 2?×?10^?7?mol?L^?1. The method is simple, sensitive, and inexpensive and was used for the determination of propyl gallate in edible oil.     

Prediction of phonon and electron contributions to thermal conduction in doped silicon films

The modified electron-phonon interaction model is proposed, and the relative contributions of phonons and electrons to the thermal conduction in doped silicon films are investigated quantitatively. The carrier contributions in sub-micro scale heat conduction are validated by an order of magnitude analysis and comparison with previous data. The simulation results show that the electron contribution in Si-layer is not negligible when the doping concentration is higher than 10¹⁹ cm^?3, which can be classified as semimetal or metal by the value of its electrical resistivity at 300 K. The electron thermal conductivity increases with increasing doping density, and its fraction is about 57.2% of the total thermal conductivity when the doping concentration is 5.0 × 10²⁰ cm^?3 and silicon film thickness 100 nm.     

An electric-discharge excimer radiation source on a set of Cl 2 * (258 nm) and ArCl (175 nm) bands

An excimer radiation source with transverse volume discharge pumping that operates simultaneously on a set of bands of 258 nm (Cl ₂ ^* ) and 175 nm (ArCl) is described. A spark UV preionization was used for the perionization of a discharge volume of 18×2.2.×1.0 cm³. The discharge was initiated in the mixtures Ar/Cl₂=(5–30)/(0.1–0.8) kPa. The source was optimized over the composition and pressure of the Ar/Cl₂ mixture. The service life of the excimer source on the electron-vibrational transitions Cl ₂ ^* and ArCl in the gas-static regime with a passive volume of 101 was of the order of 10⁴ pulses.     

Electrochemical Behavior of Epinephrine at Two‐Component Self‐Assembled Monolayer of meso‐2,3‐Dimercaptosuccinic Acid and Penicillamine on Gold Electrode

Abstract

A mixed, self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of meso‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) and penicillamine (PCA) was prepared on a gold electrode. The mixed SAM of DMSA and PCA, for which the volume ratio of DMSA:PCA was 2:1, showed an obvious electrochemical activity for the oxidation of epinephrine (EP). In the phosphate buffer (pH 7.7), a sensitive oxidation peak was observed at 0.213 V on the DMSA and PCA modified Au electrode. The peak current was proportional to the concentration of EP in the range between 5.0×10^?6 and 8.0×10^?4 mol L^?1. For the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods, the detection limits were 3.9×10^?7 and 2.5×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively. The reaction mechanism has been primarily discussed. The electrode reaction of EP was an irreversible process with two electrons and two protons transfer at the SAM gold electrode. The SAM gold electrode was applied to the determination of EP in epinephrine hydrochloride injection samples with satisfactory results.     

High energy photocathodes for laser fusion diagnostics

Laser fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility require time-resolved x-ray images of the ignition target self-emission. The photon energies are expected to be greater than 10 keV. Photoemission quantum yield measurement data and photoelectron energy spectrum data are presently unavailable in this photon energy range, but are essential in the design of x-ray imaging diagnostics. We developed an apparatus to measure the quantum efficiency of primary and secondary photoelectron emission and to estimate the energy spectrum of the secondary photoelectrons. The apparatus has been tested using photon energies less than 10 keV to allow comparisons with prior work. A method for preparing photocathodes with geometrically enhanced photoefficiency has been developed.     

A HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SENSOR BASED ON PRUSSIAN BLUE AND DNA-MODIFIED ELECTRODE

The polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) protected Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles were prepared for use as a sensor for the catalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide. The nanoparticles were used to modify a gold electrode, which was applied to detect hydrogen peroxide. Impedance spectra and differential pulse voltammetry were applied to detect the performance of the novel electrode and its response to H₂O₂ and Ramos cell smash fluid. Under the optimized experimental conditions, hydrogen peroxide was detected in a linear range of 6.25 × 10^?7 to 1.0 × 10^?5 mol · L^?1, and the detection limit was 7.12 × 10^?8 mol · L^?1 according to 3σ rule. Under the same conditions, hydrogen peroxide was determined in Ramos cell smash fluid with a linear range from 400–80000 mol mL^?1, with a detection limit of 114 mL^?1 according to 3σ rule. The modified electrode with Prussian blue nanoparticles displayed high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and long-term stability to hydrogen peroxide.     

Toxicity assessment of nano‐TiO2 in Apis mellifera L., 1758: histological and immunohistochemical assays

The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) by short‐term toxicity tests in Apis mellifera, considered an excellent bioindicator organism mainly due to its sensitivity. Bees have been exposed to several concentrations of TiO₂NPs (1 × 10^?3, 1 × 10^?4, 1 × 10^?5, 1 × 10^?6 mg/10 ml) for 10 days. Morphostructural and histological assays were done on gut and honey sac. The research of exposure biomarkers like metallothioneins 1 (MT1) and Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) was performed to verify if a detoxification mechanism has been activated in the exposed animals. No histological alteration on the epithelium of the gut and honey sac were observed in exposed samples. A significant positivity for anti‐MT1 antibody was observed only in the honey sac cells. A weak positivity for HSP70 was observed in both structures analyzed. In several studies have shown the non‐toxicity of TiO₂NPs on other model organisms, in our study, titanium dioxide nanoparticles was proven to be highly toxic at the highest concentration tested (100% of lethality to 1 × 10^?3 mg/10 ml) and moderately toxic at lower concentrations. Honey bees proved to be excellent models for study of NPs toxicity and for monitoring environment.     

A study of Ar + C2H4 and Xe + CF4 gas mixtures

Mixtures of Ar + 40 ppm C₂H₄ and 50% Xe + 50%CF₄ have been investigated. The spatial distributions of photoelectron clouds produced by primary scintillations on α- and β-particle tracks, as well as the distributions of photoelectron clouds due to photons from avalanches at the pin anode, have been measured for the first time. For a mixture of 50% Xe + 50%CF₄, it has been shown for the first time that CF₄ is a photosensitive dopant in a mixture with Xe. For a mixture of Xe + CF₄ (1: 1), the maximum electron multiplication factors at the pin anode are K(β)^max = 3 × 10⁴ and K(α)^max = 3 × 10³ at a pressure of 1 atm (abs.) and K(β)^max = 10⁴ and K(α)^max = 4 × 10³ at a pressure of 10 atm (abs.)     

Low Wear Steel Counterface Texture Design: A Case Study Using Micro-pits Texture and Alumina–PTFE Nanocomposite

Laser-induced surface micro-pits pattern has been successfully used under fluid lubrication to reduce friction and wear through mechanisms of enhanced hydrodynamic lubrication and fluid retention. Limited successes of friction and wear reduction using solid lubricant and textured surfaces have been reported in the literature, and there still lacks an efficient way of finding textures that produce desired tribological performances. This study evaluates the effect of counterface micro-pits texture on wear of a notable alumina–PTFE nanocomposite and uses the Taguchi method and “Simplex Method” to find the micro-pits parameters producing the lowest wear of the composite material. The optimum texture found yields a composite wear rate of 1 × 10^?7 mm³/Nm, a value identical to the material’s wear rate against untextured counterface. However, when slid against a freshly replaced composite pin, the existing transfer film on the optimum texture reduces composite’s wear volume at low wear transition by 90% and yields a steady-state wear rate of 3.9 × 10^?7 mm³/Nm. On the contrary, preexisting low wear transfer film on untextured counterface increases wear of the newly replaced pin by 10× and yields a wear rate of 4.4 × 10^?6 mm³/Nm. Results in this study suggest larger, shallower and sparser counterface pits are more favorable for debris entrapment, transfer film formation and wear reduction when slid against polymeric solid lubricants. It also raises new possibilities of self-adapting low wear counterface texture design that could potentially support low wear without requiring large amounts of run-in wear volume of bulk solid lubricants.     

Effect of atmospheric pressure on friction and wear of 0.45% C steel in fretting

Oxidative wear is significant in fretting wear when sufficient oxygen is supplied. In vacuum, however, oxide does not form readily. In this paper friction and wear behaviours were studied at various atmospheric pressures in order to clarify the effect of ambient pressure on them.Experiments were conducted with 0.45% C steel at ambient pressures from 1.0 × 10⁵ to 1.3 × 10^?3 Pa. The load was 14 N, the peak-to-peak slip amplitudes were 35 and 110 μm and the frequency was usually 8.3 Hz.Friction behaviours are characterized into three types according to the ambient pressure: 1.0 × 10⁵ ? 10 Pa, 10 ? 10^?1 Pa and below 10^?1 Pa. The coefficient of friction increases with a decrease in ambient pressure below 1 Pa. The critical pressure in fretting is found to be 10 Pa, above which the oxidation rate is independent of the ambient pressure and α-Fe₂O₃ is formed. Wear decreases with ambient pressure below the critical pressure where Fe₃O₄ is formed. Adhesive transfer of metallic debris occurs below 10^?1 Pa.The relationship between the coefficient of friction and oxide thickness is obtained analytically, and the effect of frequency on the oxidation rate is considered.     

Spectroscopy of single InAs quantum dots

Ensembles of InAs quantum dots with a very low density (～10⁶ cm^?2) are grown by molecular beam epitaxy, which allows the spectral characteristics of emission of single quantum dots to be studied by the method of cryogenic microphotoluminescence. With increasing quantum dot size, the splitting of exciton states is demonstrated to increase steadily to ～10² µeV. In the exciton energy range of 1.3–1.4 eV, the magnitude of this splitting is comparable with the natural width of the exciton lines. This result is important for the development of emitters of entangled photon pairs based on InAs quantum dots.