Enhanced visible light photodegradation of pharmaceutical pollutant, warfarin by nano-sized SnTe, effect of supporting, catalyst dose, and scavengers.

Improvement of new nanophotocatalysts enable to decompose the pharmaceutical pollutants with the aid of solar energy is of particular importance. In this research, the ability of SnTe photocatalyst for degradation of warfarin was enhanced and the separation difficulties of the used photocatalyst, from solutions was removed by immobilization of the photocatalyst on a suitable porous support. A novel nano-sized photocatalyst was prepared by coupling of SnTe on the surface of SBA-15 support. Characterization of the synthesized photocatalyst (SnTe@SBA-15) was performed by different methods including XRD, TEM, TGA, FT-IR, EDS and BET techniques. The map of constituent elements was also prepared. The results indicated that the activity of SnTe photocatalyst was significantly enhanced after immobilization on the support and lower catalyst dose was needed. The visible light irradiation was more effective than UV irradiation. The degradation process was kinetically fast, and the equilibrium was established within 10 min. Separation of the synthesized photocatalyst from the solution was much easier than the bulk SnTe. The regenerated photocatalyst retained more than 90% of its initial efficiency.

GeSn-on-Si normal incidence photodetectors with bandwidths more than 40 GHz.

GeSn (Sn content up to 4.2%) photodiodes with vertical pin structures were grown on thin Ge virtual substrates on Si by a low temperature (160 °C) molecular beam epitaxy. Vertical detectors were fabricated by a double mesa process with mesa radii between 5 µm and 80 µm. The nominal intrinsic absorber contains carrier densities from below 1 · 10(16) cm(-3) to 1 · 10(17) cm(-3) for Ge reference detectors and GeSn detectors with 4.2% Sn, respectively. The photodetectors were investigated with electrical and optoelectrical methods from direct current up to high frequencies (40 GHz). For a laser wavelength of 1550 nm an increasing of the optical responsivities (84 mA/W -218 mA/W) for vertical incidence detectors with thin (300 nm) absorbers as function of the Sn content were found. Most important from an application perspective all detectors had bandwidth above 40 GHz at enough reverse voltage which increased from zero to -5 V within the given Sn range. Increasing carrier densities (up to 1 · 10(17) cm(-3)) with Sn contents caused the depletion of the nominal intrinsic absorber at increasing reverse voltages.

Electrochemical properties of Sn-substituted LiMn2O4 thin films prepared by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering.

The LiMn2O4 and LiSn0.0125Mn1975O4 thin films were grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si (100) substrate by RF magnetron sputtering. To obtain the structural stability and good cycle performance, deposition parameters, namely working pressure, sputtering gas ratio of Ar and O2, post-annealing temperature were established. The structure and surface morphology of thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The electrochemical properties were estimated by two electrode half-cell test with WBCS 3000 (Wonatech, Korea) at constant current rate of 1 C-rate. The Sn substituted LiMn2O4 thin film deposited at 10 mtorr with mixture of argon and oxygen (Ar/O2 = 3/1) and then annealed at 500 degrees C in O2 atmosphere showed good cycle performance. The Sn substituted LiMn2O4 thin films showed larger capacity of -30 microAh/microm-cm2 and higher cyclability than LiMn2O4 thin films.

Grayscale photomask fabricated by laser direct writing in metallic nano-films.

The grayscale photomask plays a key role in grayscale lithography for creating 3D microstructures like micro-optical elements and MEMS structures, but how to fabricate grayscale masks in a cost-effective way is still a big challenge. Here we present novel low cost grayscale masks created in a two-step method by laser direct writing on Sn nano-films, which demonstrate continuous-tone gray levels depended on writing powers. The mechanism of the gray levels is due to the coexistence of the metal and the oxides formed in a laser-induced thermal process. The photomasks reveal good technical properties in fabricating 3D microstructures for practical applications.

Anisotropic diffraction from photorefractive gratings and Pockels tensor of Sn2P2S6.

The first observation of anisotropic diffraction and anisotropic self diffraction in low symmetry photorefractive crystal Sn(2)P(2)S(6) is reported. From comparison of the diffraction efficiency of isotropic and anisotropic diffraction the ratios of the Pockels tensor components are deduced, including some nondiagonal components that have never been evaluated until now. The particular orientation of the optical indicatrix in Sn(2)P(2)S(6) (roughly at 45 degrees to z- and x-axes at ambient temperature) has a paradoxical consequence: The efficiency of anisotropic diffraction depends solely on diagonal components of the Pockels tensor, while the efficiency of the isotropic diffraction is considerably affected by nondiagonal components. With already known results and data presented in this article we can state that all 10 nonvanishing Pockels tensor components of the m-symmetry class crystal like Sn(2)P(2)S(6) do manifest themselves in various types of nonlinear wave mixing.

A facile way for preparing tin nanoparticles from bulk tin via ultrasound dispersion.

In this paper, we reported a facile and rapid process to prepare tin nanoparticles from bulk tin via ultrasound dispersion. The morphology and structure of synthesized tin nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that the morphology of tin nanoparticles is spherical and the structure of tin nanoparticles has the same crystal structure as the bulk tin. In addition, the tribological property of tin nanoparticles as additives in oil is evaluated on a four-ball tester and the results show that tin nanoparticles exhibit good performance in wear.

Influence of Sn4+ on the structural and electronic properties of Ti1-xSnxO2 nanoparticles used as photocatalysts.

Ti(1-x)Sn(x)O(2) nanocrystalline materials employed for photocatalysis have been characterised by means of X-ray diffraction, Raman, X-ray absorption (XANES and EXAFS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Single-phase samples with anatase or rutile type structures and similar tin contents permitted a separate study of the effect of Sn(4+) ions on these crystalline forms, whereas materials composed of anatase and rutile mixtures were used to investigate the distribution of the dopant cations when both phases coexist. The results obtained from the single-phase doped TiO(2) samples indicate that the presence of tin causes a different effect when doping anatase or rutile in both their structural and electronic properties. While a random substitution of Sn(4+) for Ti(4+) seems plausible for the rutile phase, some kind of gradient in Sn(4+) concentration is possible in anatase. On the other hand, when anatase and rutile coexist, effects of doping are visible in both phases. Regarding chemical composition, a homogeneous distribution of tin was found in both calcined and hydrothermal multiphase samples. Photocatalytic experiments show that both tin-doping and coexistence of different phases have a beneficial effect on the activity of the catalysts.

Effect of Sn doping on the growth and optical properties of AgI nanoparticles.

Controlled iodization and Sn doping of vacuum-evaporated Ag films has helped understand the initial-stage kinetics of AgI nanoparticle growth under ambient conditions. Use of XRD, optical spectroscopy, and AFM has unravelled systematic correlation between Sn-induced disorder in Ag crystal structure, nanoparticle size, and exciton growth dynamics. Sn doping of Ag leads to three specific effects: removal of UV absorption minimum in Ag, introduction of a plasmon-type absorption in the red region, and a reduction in particle size in thicker (than 10 nm) films (but an increase in particle size in 10 nm films) relative to that in undoped Ag films.

Tin foil as bolus material for therapeutic electron beams from the Varian Clinac 2100C/D.

Tin foils of sub-millimetre thickness have been investigated as bolus material for therapeutic electron beams from the Varian Clinac 2100C/D linear accelerator. Measurements with ionisation chamber and radiographic film in Plastic Water or water were performed under tin foil bolus to determine surface dose, therapeutic ranges, output factor correction, penumbra and dose outside the field edge. Appropriate thicknesses of tin foil for 90% dose at the surface were found to be approximately 0.3 mm for 6 MeV, and 0.4 mm for 9 MeV and 12 MeV. Enhanced therapeutic interval with tin foil bolus over water-equivalent bolus has previously been reported, but was found not to be evident for 12 MeV and for a small (4 x 4 cm2) 9 MeV field. The penumbra width of fields with tin foil and water-equivalent bolus were found to be within 2 mm, while the doses at 1 cm outside the field edge were within 1.5% of peak dose. Output factor corrections for fields with tin foil were measured as within 2% of unity. Air gaps between the tin foil and phantom surface up to 5 mm were observed to have minimal effect on output correction factor, relative surface dose, and therapeutic range.

Inverse magnetocaloric effect in ferromagnetic Ni-Mn-Sn alloys.

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in paramagnetic materials has been widely used for attaining very low temperatures by applying a magnetic field isothermally and removing it adiabatically. The effect can also be exploited for room-temperature refrigeration by using giant MCE materials. Here we report on an inverse situation in Ni-Mn-Sn alloys, whereby applying a magnetic field adiabatically, rather than removing it, causes the sample to cool. This has been known to occur in some intermetallic compounds, for which a moderate entropy increase can be induced when a field is applied, thus giving rise to an inverse magnetocaloric effect. However, the entropy change found for some ferromagnetic Ni-Mn-Sn alloys is just as large as that reported for giant MCE materials, but with opposite sign. The giant inverse MCE has its origin in a martensitic phase transformation that modifies the magnetic exchange interactions through the change in the lattice parameters.

Mercury vapor release from dental amalgam after laser treatment.

The aim of this in vitro study was to determine whether the treatment of amalgam with different lasers leads to an increased release of mercury (Hg) vapor. In the case of CO2-lasers in pulse and continuous-wave mode, there was no effect visible on the amalgam surface and no Hg vapor could be detected. Using an Nd:YAG, Er:YAG or Nd:YLF laser, crater formation could be observed on the amalgam surfaces. With the solid state lasers tested, however, the Hg vapor measurements taken indicated that pulses applied to amalgam cause a substantially increased release of Hg vapor. This vapor may contribute to the patient's total mercury exposure.

Contrast effects in photoelectron microscopy; UV dose-dependent quantum yields of biological surface components.

The relative brightness of photoelectron microscopy images as a function of exposure to UV light has been determined from model systems representative of biological cell surface components. Quantitative data for amino acid homopolymers, yields. The photoelectron quantum yields, increase substantially over the initial values. For example, the quantum yields fo poly-L-tyrosine at 200 nm is initially about 5 X 10(-8) electron/incident photon. The quantum yield increases with 254 nm irradiation, leveling off at about 5 X 10(-4) electrons/incident photon after a dose of 3 X 10(21) quanta cm-2. Pre-irradiation of poly-L-tyrosine in the presence of certain chemical agents, for example, the Lewis base diborane (B2H6), results in a substantial reduction of the dose-dependent increase in quantum yield. Exposure to the reducing agent stannane (SnH4) essentially eliminates the effect. These chemical treatments provide methods of controlling the UV dose-dependent effects in the photoelectron images.