Evaporation characteristics of Er3+-doped silica fiber and its application in the preparation of whispering gallery mode lasers.

In this work, the concentration of rare-earth ions in doped silica whispering gallery lasers (WGLs) is controlled by evaporation. The fabrication of WGLs is used to experimentally evaluate the evaporation rate (mol/µm) and ratio (mol/mol) of erbium and silica lost from a doped fiber during heating. Fixed lengths of doped silica fiber are spliced to different lengths of undoped fiber and then evaporated by feeding into the focus of a CO2 laser. During evaporation, erbium ions are precipitated in the doped silica fiber to control the erbium concentration in the remaining SiO2, which is melted into a microsphere. By increasing the length of the undoped section, a critical point is reached where effectively no ions remain in the glass microsphere. The critical point is found using the spectra of the whispering gallery modes in microspheres with equal sizes. From the critical point, it is estimated that, for a given CO2 laser power, 6.36 × 10-21 mol of Er3+ is lost during the evaporation process for every cubic micron of silica fiber. This is equivalent to 1.74 × 10-7 mol of Er3+ lost per mol of SiO2 evaporated. This result facilitates the control of the doping concentration in WGLs and provides insight into the kinetics of laser-induced evaporation of doped silica.

Mechanism study of CoS2/Fe(III)/peroxymonosulfate catalysis system: The vital role of sulfur vacancies.

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation methods have attractive advantages in advanced oxidation process (AOPs) due to their powerful ability of directly or indirectly generating various reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, trace amount of Fe(III) ions were added into the commercial-CoS2/PMS system to improve the CoS2/PMS decomposition for organics removal. The organics removal efficiency could reach >90% towards methylene blue (MB), diclofenac sodium (DCF), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and bisphenol A (BPA) in the CoS2/Fe(III)/PMS system, with the kinetic apparent rate constant kobs of 0.141, 0.206, 0.247 and 0.091 min-1, respectively. The synergistic effect between Fe(III) ions and sulfur-vacancies on CoS2 for PMS degradation were revealed for the first time in cobalt sulfides/PMS system. Quenching experiments and ESR analysis proved that 1O2 was the major ROS and was produced mainly by the hydrolysis of SO5•-. Besides, the high degradation efficiency was obtained by the contribution of SO4•- and •OH. Electron spin-resonance spectroscopy (ESR), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and Raman spectrum data revealed that the addition of Fe(III) ions could optimize the intensity of sulfur vacancies on the CoS2 surface, which hindered the PMS reduction ability of Co(II), but accelerated the PMS oxidation to form 1O2. The degradation path of MB was analyzed by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS). The mechanism studies speculated that the sulfur vacancies of CoS2 provided the binding sites for Fe(III) ions with Co(II), which facilitated the PMS activation by Co(III).

Packaged whispering gallery resonator device based on an optical nanoantenna coupler.

In this work, we present a packaged whispering gallery mode (WGM) device based on an optical nanoantenna as the coupler and a glass microsphere as the resonator. The microspheres were fabricated from either SiO2 fiber or Er3+-doped fiber, the latter creating a WGM laser with a threshold of 93 µW at 1531 nm. The coupler-resonator WGM device was packaged in a glass capillary. The performance of the packaged microlaser was characterized, with lasing emission both excited in and collected from the WGM cavity via the nanoantenna. The packaged system provides isolation from environmental contamination, a small size, and unidirectional coupling while maintaining a high quality (Q-) factor (∼108).

Tm3+-doped fluorotellurite glass microsphere resonator laser at 2.3 µm.

In this Letter, we report lasing at 2.3 µm in Tm3+-single-doped and Tm3+/Ho3+-codoped fluorotellurite glass microsphere resonators. By employing a 793 nm diode laser as a pump and exploiting whispering gallery mode microresonators (WGMRs), dual-wavelength lasing at 1.9 and 2.3 µm and triple-wavelength lasing at 1.9, 2.07, and 2.3 µm are achieved in Tm3+-doped and Tm3+/Ho3+-codoped microspheres, respectively. The introduction of Ho3+ ions significantly reduces the lasing threshold of Tm3+ at 2.3 µm because of energy transfer.

In-fiber temperature sensor based on green up-conversion luminescence in an Er3+-Yb3+co-doped tellurite glass microsphere.

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, in-fiber temperature sensor based on green up-conversion (UC) luminescence in an Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped tellurite glass microsphere is described. The tellurite glass microsphere is located firmly inside a suspended tri-core hollow-fiber (STCHF) structure. The pump light launched via a single-mode fiber (SMF) is passed through a section of multimode fiber, which is fusion spliced between the SMF and the STCHF into the cores suspended inside the hollow fiber and coupled into the microsphere. Green and red UC emissions of the Er3+ ions are observed using 980 nm pump excitation. The temperature-sensing capability of the tellurite glass microsphere is based on the thermally coupled effect between the upper energy levels responsible for green emissions at 528 nm and 549 nm. The resulting fluorescence intensity ratio, depending on the surrounding temperature range from 303 K to 383 K, is experimentally determined, and a maximum sensitivity of 5.47×10-3 K-1 is demonstrated. This novel in-fiber microsphere-resonator-based device is highly integrated and has the additional advantages of ease of fabrication, compact structure, and low fabrication cost and therefore has great application potential in integrated optical sources including lasers.

Tm3+-Ho3+ codoped tellurite glass microsphere laser in the 1.47 µm wavelength region.

In this Letter, a Tm3+-Ho3+ codoped tellurite glass microsphere laser in the 1.47 µm wavelength region is described. Using a traditional tapered microfiber-microsphere coupling method, multimode and single-mode lasing around the wavelength of 1.47 µm is observed using an 802 nm laser diode as a pump source. This Tm3+-Ho3+ codoped tellurite glass microsphere laser can be used in near-infrared telecommunications, biomedical, and astrophysical applications.

Effect of Tm3+ concentration on the emission wavelength shift in Tm3+-doped silica microsphere lasers.

In this work, a Tm3+-doped solgel silica microsphere lasing at 2.0 µm is reported. Microspheres with different Tm3+ concentrations are fabricated by overlaying different Tm3+ concentration solgel solutions on the surface of a pure silica microsphere resonator and then annealing the sample with a CO2 laser. Based on a traditional fiber taper-microsphere coupling method, single and multimode microsphere lasing in the wavelength range 1.8-2.0 µm is observed if an 808 nm laser diode is used as a pump source. A relatively low threshold pumping power of 1.2 mW is achieved using this arrangement. This solgel method allows for an easy varying of the Tm3+ doping concentration. The observed laser output shifts to longer wavelengths when the Tm3+ doping concentration increases. This has been explained by the larger Tm absorption at shorter wavelengths. The ability to fabricate solgel co-doped silica glass microlasers represents a new generation of low threshold and compact infrared laser sources for use as miniaturized photonic components for a wide range of applications, including gas sensing and medical surgery.

In-fiber whispering-gallery mode microsphere resonator-based integrated device.

A novel in-fiber whispering-gallery mode (WGM) microsphere resonator-based integrated device is reported. It is fabricated by placing a silica microsphere into an embedded dual-core hollow fiber (EDCHF). Using a fiber tapering method, a silica microsphere can be placed and fixed in the transition section of the hollow core of the EDCHF. The transmitted light from the tapered-input single-mode fiber is coupled into the embedded silica microsphere via the two suspended fiber cores, and hence effectively excites the WGMs. A Q-factor of 5.54×103 is achieved over the wavelength range of 1100-1300 nm. The polarization and temperature dependence of the in-fiber WGM microsphere resonator device is also investigated experimentally. This integrated photonics device provides greatly improved mechanical stability, compared with the traditional tapered fiber-coupled WGM microresonator devices. Additional advantages include ease of fabrication, compact structure, and low cost. This novel in-fiber WGM resonator integrated device is ideally positioned to access a wide range of potential applications in optical sensing and microcavity lasing.

Characterization of dissolved organic matter from surface waters with low to high dissolved organic carbon and the related disinfection byproduct formation potential.

In this study, the disinfection byproduct formation potential (DBPFP) of three surface waters with the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content of 2.5, 5.2, and 7.9mg/L was investigated. The formation and distribution of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids were evaluated. Samples collected from three surface waters in China were fractionated based on molecular weight and hydrophobicity. The raw water containing more hydrophobic (Ho) fraction exhibited higher formation potentials of haloacetic acid and trihalomethane. The DBPFP of the surface waters did not correlate with the DOC value. The values of DBPFP per DOC were correlated with the specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) for Ho and Hi fractions. The obtained results suggested that SUVA cannot reveal the ability of reactive sites to form disinfection byproducts for waters with few aromatic structures. Combined with the analysis of FTIR and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the raw waters and the corresponding fractions, it was concluded that the Ho fraction with phenolic hydroxyl and conjugated double bonds was responsible for the production of trichloromethanes and trichloroacetic acids. The Hi fraction with amino and carboxyl groups had the potential to form dichloroacetic acids and chlorinated trihalomethanes.

Electrochemical removal of haloacetic acids in a three-dimensional electrochemical reactor with Pd-GAC particles as fixed filler and Pd-modified carbon paper as cathode.

The reductive removal of haloacetic acids (HAAs) in a three-dimensional electrochemical continuous reactor with Pd-granular activated carbon (Pd-GAC) particles as fixed filler and Pd-modified carbon paper (Pd-C) as cathode was studied in this research. Pd-C electrode was prepared from PdCl2 via electrodeposition onto carbon paper. Pd-GAC particles were prepared by the impregnation of Pd(2+) ions onto GAC. Efficient electrocatalytic reduction of HAAs in this reactor was exhibited. Effects of current density, initial HHAs concentration, and hydraulic retention time on the HHAs removal were investigated. Under the current density of 0.3 mA/cm(2), HAAs with initial concentration of 120 µg/L were reduced to be less than 60 µg/L with hydraulic retention time of 20 min. Electron transfer and HAAs diffusion both played an important role in controlling the electro-reduction process under the conditions of current density less than 0.6 mA/cm(2) with an initial HAAs concentration ranging from 120 to 600 µg/L. However, the HAAs diffusion became the primary rate-limiting step when the current density was higher than 0.6 mA/cm(2). The Pd(0) and Pd(2+) species were detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The stability of the electrochemical reactor in the reduction removal of HAAs was also exhibited.

Transformation characteristics of refractory pollutants in plugboard wastewater by an optimal electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton process.

The treatment of the plugboard wastewater was performed by an optimal electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton. The organic components with suspended fractions accounting for 30% COD were preferably removed via electrocoagulation at initial 5 min. In contrast, the removal efficiency was increased to 76% with the addition of H(2)O(2). The electrogenerated Fe(2+) reacts with H(2)O(2) and leads to the generation of (·)OH, which is responsible for the higher COD removal. However, overdosage H(2)O(2) will consume (·)OH generated in the electro-Fenton process and lead to the low COD removal. The COD removal efficiency decreased with the increased pH. The concentration of Fe(2+) ions was dependent on the solution pH, H(2)O(2) dosage and current density. The changes of organic characteristics in coagulation and oxidation process were differenced and evaluated using gel permeation chromatography, fluorescence excitation-emission scans and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The fraction of the wastewater with aromatic structure and large molecular weight was decomposed into aliphatic structure and small molecular weight fraction in the electro-Fenton process.

Characteristic transformation of humic acid during photoelectrocatalysis process and its subsequent disinfection byproduct formation potential.

In this study, degradation of humic acid (HA) via photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) process and corresponding disinfection byproduct formation potential (DBPFP) were investigated. Particularly, structure variation and subsequent DBPFP of HA during PEC treatment were correlated. The PEC process was found to be effective in reducing dissolved organic carbon concentration by 75.0% and UV absorbance at 254 nm by 92.0%. Furthermore, 90.3% of haloacetic acids formation potential and 89.8% of trihalomethanes formation potential were reduced within 180 min. Based on molecular weight and resin fraction results, it was demonstrated that HA with large aromatic, hydrophobic and long aliphatic chain organics were transformed into small and hydrophilic organics during PEC process. Combined with the fourier transform infrared spectra and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra analysis of HA fractions, it was concluded that phenolic hydroxyl and conjugated double bonds tended to be attacked by hydroxyl radicals during PEC process; these groups were reactive with chlorine to produce disinfection byproducts (DBP), especially trihalomethane and trichloroacetic acid. By contrast, amino, carboxyl and alcoholic hydroxyl groups were relatively difficult to be oxidized during PEC process; these groups had the potential to form dichloroacetic acid during chlorination. Results of these studies confirmed that PEC process was a safe and effective technique to decrease DBP formation significantly in water treatment plant.

Cloning of salt stress responsive cDNA from wheat and resistant analysis of differential fragment SR07 in transgenic tobacco.

Analysis of the gene expression differentiation in leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Baofeng 7228, under salt stress, was carried out by Differential-Display Reverse Transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (DDRT-PCR.) Twenty-seven differential cDNA fragments were obtained. The expression of the SR07 fragment was induced noticeably by salt treatment, and the nucleotide sequence homology of 87% between the SR07 fragment and PIPs (water channel proteins) was observed. Further research showed that a 561 bp open read frame was present in the SR07 fragment. Plant expression vector of pCAMBIA-SR07 was constructed and three transformants of tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens plasmid were obtained. Resistance to salt, PEG, and mannitol stresses of the three transformants were examined. No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed between the control and the transformants in resistance to salt stress, but there was significant difference (P < 0.05) between the control and the transformants in resistance to PEG and mannitol stresses. Therefore, the expression of the SR07 fragment may play an important role in the water regulation of the plant.