A new carbon structure in annealed film coatings of the carbon–lead system

Carbon–lead solid solutions coexisting with amorphous carbon have been obtained for the first time in a film coating deposited by ion-plasma sputtering. During subsequent vacuum annealing of carbon–lead films containing more than 68.5 at % Pb, this element almost completely evaporates to leave an amorphous carbon coating on a substrate. During annealing at 1100°C, this amorphous carbon crystallizes into a new hexagonal lattice with unit cell parameters a = 0.7603 nm and c = 0.8168 nm. Characteristic X-ray diffraction data for the identification of this phase are determined.

     

The structural state of epitaxial GaP films of different polarities grown on misoriented Si(001) substrates

The structure of GaP films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on vicinal Si(1113) substrates has been studied by X-ray diffraction. It is established that the crystalline lattice of a pseudomorphic film rotates about the <110> axis toward increasing deviation from the singular orientation, while the subsequent relaxation leads to rotation in the opposite direction. This is valid for the films of both (001) and (001̄) polarities. Differences between the surface morphologies of relaxed and pseudomorphic GaP films are revealed.

     

Surface plasmon resonance in a bent single-mode fiber with a metallized cladding experimental research

The processes of surface plasmon resonance excitation in a bent single-mode optical fiber with a metallized cladding have been studied experimentally. It is shown that, for a certain combination of the bending radius of an optical fiber and the thickness of a metal film, a strong coupling between the fundamental and plasmon–polariton mode is achieved through a whispering gallery mode supported by the fiber cladding, which leads to the formation of a resonance dip with a depth of ~30 dB or more in the transmission spectrum of an optical fiber loop. The position of the dip depends strongly on the ambient refractive index, which provides the possibility of refractometric measurements with a spectral sensitivity of ~5 μm/RIU and a resolution of ~4 × 10^–6. Limits of measurement of the refractive index are determined by the operating spectral range and the bending radius of the optical fiber and are 1.42–1.44 for the setup used.     

Sorption of cesium and strontium radionuclides onto crystalline alkali metal titanosilicates

Sorption of tracer amounts of ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr radionuclides from model solutions of various compositions onto synthetic titanosilicates, framework ivanyukite and layered SL3, both synthesized at the Center for Nanomaterials Science, Kola Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, was studied. Synthetic ivanyukite and titanosilicate SL3 well compete with Termoxid-25 ferrocyanide sorbent in the ability to take up cesium from neutral NaNO₃ solutions and from a simulated solution of bottom residue from a nuclear power plant with RBMK reactors. The maximal sorption of ¹³⁷Cs onto ivanyukite is observed at pH 6–7. The dependence of the ¹³⁷Cs distribution coefficient (K _d) on ivanyukite on the concentration of sodium and potassium ions in the solution was studied. Potassium ions affect the cesium sorption more strongly than sodium ions do. In the ability to take up ⁹⁰Sr, synthetic ivanyukite well competes with synthetic zeolite of type A and with the sorbent based on modified manganese dioxide. The dependences of K _d of ⁹⁰Sr on the concentrations of the Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions in the solution were determined. Calcium ions affect the strontium sorption more strongly than sodium ions do. Ivanyukite and SL3 show promise as sorbents for removing cesium and strontium radionuclides from multicomponent salt solutions.     

Beyond-design-basis regimes of uranium stripping and of carbonate regeneration of the solvent

Beyond-design-basis regimes of centrifugal contactors for U stripping and of mixer–settlers for carbonate regeneration of the solvent, 30% TBP in Isopar M, were studied from the viewpoint of the influence of incomplete uranium stripping on the phase stability of the extraction system in the step of the carbonate scrubbing of the solvent. Dynamic relationship between these two operations was determined. A mathematical model of uranium stripping at stepwise–20% deviation from the nominal value was developed and verified; it was shown that the beyond-design-basis regime develops in such apparatuses within 4 h at the total trial time longer than 8 h. The mathematical relationships obtained were used in the development of software for calculating transient processes that occur when the stream parameters in the course of carbonate regeneration of the solvent change. The beyond-design-basis regime of the solvent regeneration was found to have two regions: region of stoichiometric excess of carbonate ions over uranyl ions with the risk of precipitation and region of excess of uranyl ions over carbonate ions with acidification of the unit and uranium breakthrough with the recycled solvent. The conditions of the tests performed correspond to the second region.     

Financial assessment of health and safety programmes in the workplace

In evaluating health and safety improvements for performance improvement, it is necessary to account for both the contributions of a healthy workforce and the resources required supporting it.

The Economic Assessment of the Work Environment (EAWE) is a financial framework that helps management forecast the financial benefits of health and safety implementations. The five-step process comprises (1) a health assessment to identify critical elements in the work environment, (2) an action plan to address gaps, (3) performance targets based on internal goals and external benchmarks, (4) transformation of the expected improvements in health and safety into expected performance outcomes, and (5) implementation in stages, starting from individual jobs to entire organisation.

EAWE offers a dynamic framework for corporate decision-makers when evaluating health and safety programmes. Further research should explore the bounds of EAWE across different types of organisations and the evolution of performance over time.     

Determination of concentrations of fission products by ICP–AES in solutions from spent nuclear fuel reprocessing

A procedure was developed for determining the gravimetric concentration of U and fission products (Ba, Mo, Zr, Sr, Rb, Pd, and Cd) in solutions from spent nuclear fuel (SNF) reprocessing, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP–AES). The optimum analysis parameters were found. The analytical lines that are not significantly affected by the matrix element were chosen for the elements being determined. The total margin of error in measurements of the metal concentrations (0.1–2500 mg L^–1) by the suggested procedure is in the interval 1–20% (for the minimal concentration). The detection thresholds of uranium fission products in model solutions at optimum parameters vary in the interval from 0.020 to 0.1 mg L^–1.     

Freestanding hierarchical porous carbon film derived from hybrid nanocellulose for high-power supercapacitors

Nanocellulose is a sustainable and eco-friendly nanomaterial derived from renewable biomass.In this study,we utilized the structural advantages of two types of nanocellulose and fabricated freestanding carbonized hybrid nanocellulose films as electrode materials for supercapacitors.The long cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) formed a macroporous framework,and the short cellulose nanocrystals were assembled around the CNF framework and generated micro/mesopores.This two-level hierarchical porous structure was successfully preserved during carbonization because of a thin atomic layer deposited (ALD) Al2O3 conformal coating,which effectively prevented the aggregation of nanocellulose.These carbonized,partially graphitized nanocellulose fibers were interconnected,forming an integrated and highly conductive network with a large specific surface area of 1,244 m2·g-1.The two-level hierarchical porous structure facilitated fast ion transport in the film.When tested as an electrode material with a high mass loading of 4 mg·cm-2 for supercapacitors,the hierarchical porous carbon film derived from hybrid nanocellulose exhibited a specific capacitance of 170 F.g-1and extraordinary performance at high current densities.Even at a very high current of 50 A·g-1,it retained 65％ of its original specific capacitance,which makes it a promising electrode material for high-power applications.