Optical properties and energy transfer processes in Tb3+-doped ZnSe quantum dots.

Tb3+-Doped ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) with a Tb content in the range of 0.5-7% were successfully synthesized by a wet chemical method. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses revealed that the as-synthesized QDs had a zinc blende (ZB) structure with a particle size of approximately 4 nm. The effect of Tb-doping on the structure and optical properties of the ZnSe QDs was studied. The emission spectra and photoluminescence (PL) decay kinetics data confirmed the successful incorporation of Tb3+ ions into the ZnSe host. The PL spectra also revealed that the intensity of dopant emission was significantly enhanced owing to the energy transfer (ET) from the host emission. The efficiency of the ET process from the ZnSe host to Tb3+ ions and between Tb3+ ions and the nature of these interaction mechanisms were determined by applying the Inokuti-Hirayama and Reisfeld models. The features of the ligand field and the optical properties of Tb3+ ions in the ZnSe QDs were studied using Judd-Ofelt theory. The dependence of the chromaticity features of ZnSe:Tb3+ QDs on the Tb concentration was estimated by the chromaticity coordinates and correlated color temperature (CCT). The Tb3+-doped ZnSe QDs with visible, tunable, and very long lifetime emission have potential for practical applications such as biological labeling, photocatalysis, and white-LED devices.

Effect of dopant concentration and the role of ZnS shell on optical properties of Sm3+ doped CdS quantum dots.

The role of samarium (Sm) dopant on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of CdS QDs and CdS/ZnS core/shell QDs was methodically reported. The synthesis of Sm-doped CdS QDs and CdS/ZnS QDs was carried out via a facile wet chemical method. The structure, chemical composition, and optical properties of the synthesized QDs were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. XRD analysis showed that the synthesized CdS QDs exhibited zinc blende structure which was not affected by doping Sm3+ ions. The particle size of the CdS:Sm and CdS:Sm (2%)/ZnS QDs was estimated to be ∼4 nm and ∼7 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed that the incorporation of Sm dopant did not significantly affect the size and morphology of CdS QDs, while the formation of the ZnS shell increased the particle size. XPS and XRD results confirmed the successful incorporation of Sm3+ ions into the CdS QDs. The effect of dopant concentration on the structural and luminescent properties was studied. The emission and excitation spectra of Sm3+-doped CdS QDs and CdS/ZnS QDs consisted of the characteristic lines corresponding to the intra-configurational f-f transitions. The energy transfer (ET) mechanism from the host to Sm3+ ions and the ET process through cross-relaxation between Sm3+ ions have been elucidated. The effect of the ZnS shell on the optical stability of the Sm3+-doped CdS QDs was studied in detail and the results showed that the CdS:Sm (2%)/ZnS QDs retained their good emission characteristics after 376 days of fabrication. The luminescent properties of Sm-doped QDs ranging from violet to red and PL lifetime extending to milliseconds demonstrated that these QDs are the potential materials for applications in white LEDs, biomarkers, and photocatalysis.

Enhancement of exchangeable Cd and Pb immobilization in contaminated soil using Mg/Al LDH-zeolite as an effective adsorbent.

In the present study, experiments using zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite for immobilization of Cd and Pb ions in artificial soil were conducted. The conditions which affect Cd and Pb ion immobilization in soil were evaluated, namely soil pH (5-7), the mass ratio of adsorbents (1%, 3% and 5%), incubation time (15 days, 30 days and 45 days) and soil moisture (30%, 50% and 70%). The results indicated that the optimal soil pH, mass ratio of adsorbents, incubation time and soil moisture for immobilization of Cd and Pb ions by the adsorbent were, respectively, 7.0, 3%, 30 days and 70%. The exchangeable Cd ion content in the contaminated soil dropped from 22.17 mg kg-1 (87.65%) to 11.03 mg kg-1 (43.48%) and 6.47 mg kg-1 (26.36%) on incubation with zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite, respectively, while the exchangeable Pb content fell from 23.28 mg kg-1 (90.02%) to 14.12 mg kg-1 (54.04%) and 9.47 mg kg-1 (35.24%) using zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite as absorbents in contaminated soil, respectively. Fe-Mn oxide occluded (F2), carbonate bound (F3) and organically complexed (F4) were the main forms for immobilization of the exchangeable Cd and Pb when the zeolite and Mg/Al LDH-zeolite absorbents were separately cultivated into soil. Precipitation, co-precipitation and electrostatic attraction were the main mechanisms of exchangeable Cd and Pb immobilization onto the Mg/Al LDH-zeolite to form carbonate metals (CdCO3 and PbCO3). This was due to the surface functional groups of the adsorbent and the presence of Fe and Al oxyhydroxides, Mn oxides, and Si and O elements in the Mg/Al LDH-zeolite's constituents. The efficiency of Cd and Pb immobilization by the Mg/Al LDH-zeolite was higher than that by zeolite from 1.5 to 1.6 times. The Mg/Al LDH-zeolite showed an enhanced ability of exchangeable Cd and Pb immobilization in contaminated soil.

Structural transition and magnetic properties of Mn doped Bi0.88Sm0.12FeO3 ceramics.

We investigated the effects of Mn doping on the crystal structure, phonon vibration, and magnetic properties of Bi0.88Sm0.12FeO3 ceramics. Mn doping effectively modified the rhombohedral symmetry and induced a structural transition from an R3c rhombohedral to Pnam orthorhombic structure. Magnetic measurements revealed a weak ferromagnetic behavior, which was related to the canted antiferromagnetic order of the Pnam structure. The cycloidal spin structure of the R3c phase could not be suppressed by substitution of Mn at the Fe site. Studies on the self-phase transition and electric field-induced structural transition revealed many changes in coercivity and remanent magnetization, which are believed to originate from the R3c/Pnam phase switching along with spin frustration. Observations of the field step-dependent hysteresis loop and the ferromagnetic-like hysteresis loop after poling in an electric field provided direct evidence of phase boundary (PB) ferromagnetism and magnetic coupling at the PB.

The impact of public voluntary health insurance on private health expenditures in Vietnam.

As a financing mechanism with the potential to raise additional funds for health services, whilst improving access to services amongst the poor, non-profit health insurance has become increasingly attractive to health policy-makers. Using data from a household survey in Vietnam, out of pocket health expenditure are compared between members and eligible non-members of the government-implemented voluntary health insurance scheme. Expenditures are analysed for individuals who sought care during their most recent illness. Using an endogenous dummy variable model to control for bias resulting from self-selection into the scheme, we find that health insurance reduces average out-of-pocket expenditures by approximately 200%. Whilst income inelastic, health expenditures are found to be significantly influenced by an individuals level of income, irrespective of insurance status. Despite this, insurance reduces expenditures significantly more for the poor than for the rich.