Microstructural and Radioluminescence Characteristics of Nd3+ Doped Columbite-Type SrNb2O6 Phosphor.

Undoped and different concentration Nd3+ doped SrNb2O6 powders with columbite structure were synthesized by molten salt process using a mixture of strontium nitrate and niobium (V) oxide and NaCl-KCl salt mixture as a flux under relatively low calcining temperature. X-ray diffraction analysis results indicated that SrNb2O6 phases found to be orthorhombic columbite single phase for undoped, 0.5 and 3 mol% Nd3+ doping concentrations. Phase composition of the powders was examined by SEM-EDS analyses. Radioluminescence properties of Nd3+ doped samples from UV to near-IR spectral region were studied. The emissions increased with the doping concentration of up to 3 mol%, and then decreased due to concentration quenching effect. There is a sharp emission peak around 880 nm associated with 4F5/2 â†’ 4I9/2 transition in the Nd3+ ion between 300 and 1100 nm. The broad emission band intensity was observed from 400 to 650 nm where the peak intensities increased by increasing Nd3+ doping concentration. All the measurements were taken under the room temperature.

An efficient removal of RB5 from aqueous solution by adsorption onto nano-ZnO/Chitosan composite beads.

In this study, the removal of Reactive Black 5 (RB-5) by nano-ZnO/Chitosan composite beads (nano-ZnO/CT-CB) from aqueous solution was investigated. ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by the via the microwave-assisted combustion technique. And then nano-ZnO/Chitosan composite beads were prepared by polymerization in the presence of nano-ZnO and chitosan. Characterization of composite beads were conducted using SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA and XRD. Several important parameters influencing the removal of RB 5 such as contact time, pH and temperature were investigated systematically by batch experiments. At optimum conditions of pH 4 and adsorbent concentration of 0.2g, dye removal efficiency was found 76%. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption models were used to describe adsorption isotherms and constants. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) by Langmuir isotherm has been found to be 189.44mg/g. Isotherms have also been used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters such as free energy, enthalpy and entropy of adsorption. The positive value of the enthalpy change (32.7kJ/mol) indicated that the adsorption is an endothermic process. The obtained results showed that the tested adsorbents are efficient and alternate low-cost adsorbent for removal of dyes from aqueous media.

Removal of thorium (IV) ions from aqueous solution by a novel nanoporous ZnO: Isotherms, kinetic and thermodynamic studies.

The adsorption of thorium (IV) from aqueous solutions onto a novel nanoporous ZnO particles prepared by microwave assisted combustion was studied using batch methods under different experimental conditions. The effect of contact time, solution pH, initial concentration and temperature on adsorption process was studied. The ability of this material to remove Th (IV) from aqueous solution was characterises by Langmuir, Freunlinch and Temkin adsorption isotherms. The adsorption percent and distribution coefficient for nanoporous ZnO powders in optimum conditions were 97% ± 1.02; 8080 L kg(-1)for Th (IV), respectively. Based on the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of nanoporous ZnO for Th (IV) was found to be 1500 g kg(-1). Thermodynamic parameters were determined and discussed. The results indicated that nanoporous ZnO was suitable as sorbent material for recovery and adsorption of Th (IV) ions from aqueous solutions. The radioactive Th (VI) in surface water, sea water and waste waters from technologies producing nuclear fuels, mining (uranium and thorium) and laboratories working with radioactive materials (uranium and thorium) can be removed with this nanoporous ZnO.

Thermally stimulated luminescence glow curve structure of ß-irradiated CaB4O7:Dy.

Thermally stimulated luminescence glow curves of CaB4O7:Dy samples after ß-irradiation showed glow peaks at ~335, 530 and 675 K, with a heating rate of 2 K/s. The main peak at 530 K was analyzed using the Tmax-Tstop method and was found to be composed of at least five overlapping glow peaks. A curve-fitting program was used to perform computerized glow curve deconvolution (CGCD) analysis of the complex peak of the dosimetric material of interest. The kinetic parameters, namely activation energy (E) and frequency factor (s), associated with the main glow peak of CaB4O7:Dy at 520 K were evaluated using peak shape (PS) and isothermal luminescence decay (ILD) methods. In addition, the kinetics was determined to be first order (b =1) by applying the additive dose method. The activation energies and frequency factors obtained using PS and ILD methods are calculated to be 0.72 and 0.72 eV and 8.76 × 10(5) and 1.44 × 10(6) /s, respectively.

Studies on luminescence from a cerium-doped strontium stannate phosphor.

The crystal structure and morphology of Ce(3+) -doped SrSnO3 materials prepared using the solid-state reaction method were extensively characterized using experimental techniques. X-Ray diffraction results show that the cerium substitution of strontium does not change the structure of the strontium stannate. Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate the microstructures and lattice vibrations. Environmental scanning electron microscopy images showed that phosphors aggregate and their particles form irregular shapes. SrSnO3 exhibits an intense green emission with a broad band originating from the 5d(1) → 4f(1) transition of cerium. It was observed that, after exposure to beta-irradiation, the glow curve of this material has two broad thermoluminescence peaks, one centered at ~ 127°C and the other at ~ 245°C for a heating rate of 5 K/s. The kinetic parameters, which include the frequency factor and the activation energy of the material, were calculated using Chen's method, after beta-irradiation. The fading and reusability of the phosphor were also studied and it was found that the phosphor is suitable for radiation dosimetry.