Observations of TiO2 Surfaces Using Totally Reflected X-ray In-plane Diffraction Under UV Irradiation

2002 ◽  
Vol 751 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Horiuchi ◽  
H. Ochi ◽  
K. Kaisei ◽  
K. Ishida ◽  
K. Matsushige
Keyword(s):  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Plane Surface ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
High Signal ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Catalytic Activities

ABSTRACTSurface lattice displacements of titanium dioxide (TiO2: rutile) during ultra-violet (UV) light irradiation have been investigated using a total reflection x-ray diffraction, which provides a high signal to noise ratio (S/N) and superior in-plane surface diffraction. Under the environments in vapors of H2O, CH3OH, C2H5OH and C3H6OH, the photo-catalytic activities of TiO2 (110), (100) and (001) surfaces subject to UV irradiation have been measured. It is found that the diffraction peaks and their full width half maxima (FWHMs) show some peculiarities with respect to the photo-catalytic activities in both surface lattices and adsorbed molecules in vapors. Furthermore, Kelvin force microscopy (KFM) has showed that there exists a very high surface potential, probably due to surface atom displacements induced by UV irradiation. With regard to the origin of the photo-catalytic activities, the induced surface potentials are discussed.

scholarly journals Testing the accuracy of reflection-based supermassive black hole spin measurements in AGN

2018 ◽  
Vol 614 ◽  
pp. A44 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Kammoun ◽  
E. Nardini ◽  
G. Risaliti
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Galactic Nuclei ◽  
Relativistic Effects ◽  
High Signal ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Multiple Components ◽  
Spin Parameter ◽  
Partial Covering ◽  
Spin Measurements

Context. X-ray reflection is a very powerful method to assess the spin of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in active galactic nuclei (AGN), yet this technique is not universally accepted. Indeed, complex reprocessing (absorption, scattering) of the intrinsic spectra along the line of sight can mimic the relativistic effects on which the spin measure is based. Aims. In this work, we test the reliability of SMBH spin measurements that can currently be achieved through the simulations of high-quality XMM-Newton and NuSTAR spectra. Methods. Each member of our group simulated ten spectra with multiple components that are typically seen in AGN, such as warm and (partial-covering) neutral absorbers, relativistic and distant reflection, and thermal emission. The resulting spectra were blindly analysed by the other two members. Results. Out of the 60 fits, 42 turn out to be physically accurate when compared to the input model. The SMBH spin is retrieved with success in 31 cases, some of which (9) are even found among formally inaccurate fits (although with looser constraints). We show that, at the high signal-to-noise ratio assumed in our simulations, neither the complexity of the multi-layer, partial-covering absorber nor the input value of the spin are the major drivers of our results. The height of the X-ray source (in a lamp-post geometry) instead plays a crucial role in recovering the spin. In particular, a success rate of 16 out of 16 is found among the accurate fits for a dimensionless spin parameter larger than 0.8 and a lamp-post height lower than five gravitational radii.

Morphologic, Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Properties of ZnO-TiO2 Sol-Gel System

2018 ◽  
Vol 762 ◽  
pp. 278-282
Author(s):  
Anzelms Zukuls ◽  
Gundars Mežinskis ◽  
Aigars Reinis ◽  
Ingus Skadins ◽  
Juta Kroica ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photocatalytic Activity ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Properties Of Coatings ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Glass Slides ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Colour Changes

Prepared and heat-treated sol-gel ZnO-TiO2 coatings onto microscope glass slides were characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as absorption spectra of light has been obtained. Thermally treated xerogels were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD). As well as their photocatalytic activity using methyl orange (MO) and observing the colour changes over the time in visible light (VIS) and ultra violet (UV) light has been determined. The influence of ZnO concentration on morphology, photocatalytic activity and antibacterial properties of coatings was analysed. The growth of S. epidermidis on the surface of the samples was inhibited due to photocatalytic properties of coatings.

scholarly journals A study of synthetic <sup>13</sup>CH<sub>4</sub> retrievals from TROPOMI and Sentinel-5/UVNS

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 6273-6301
Author(s):  
Edward Malina ◽  
Haili Hu ◽  
Jochen Landgraf ◽  
Ben Veihelmann
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
High Signal ◽  
Atmospheric Methane ◽  
Δ13c Values ◽  
Temporal Averaging ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Shortwave Infrared

Abstract. Retrievals of methane isotopologues have the potential to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic methane sources types, which can provide much needed information about the current global methane budget. We investigate the feasibility of retrieving the second most abundant isotopologue of atmospheric methane (13CH4, roughly 1.1 % of total atmospheric methane) from the shortwave infrared (SWIR) channels of the future Sentinel-5/ultra-violet, visible, near-infrared, shortwave infrared (UVNS) and current Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) instruments. With the intended goal of calculating the δ13C value, we assume that a δ13C uncertainty of better than 1 ‰ is sufficient to differentiate between source types, which corresponds to a 13CH4 uncertainty of <0.02 ppb. Using the well-established information content analysis techniques and assuming clear-sky, non-scattering conditions, we find that the SWIR3 (2305–2385 nm) channel on the TROPOMI instrument can achieve a mean uncertainty of <1 ppb, while the SWIR1 channel (1590–1675 nm) on the Sentinel-5 UVNS instrument can achieve <0.68 ppb or <0.2 ppb in high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) cases. These uncertainties combined with significant spatial and/or temporal averaging techniques can reduce δ13C uncertainty to the target magnitude or better. However, we find that 13CH4 retrievals are highly sensitive to errors in a priori knowledge of temperature and pressure, and accurate knowledge of these profiles is required before 13CH4 retrievals can be performed on TROPOMI and future Sentinel-5/UVNS data. In addition, we assess the assumption that scattering-induced light path errors are cancelled out by comparing the δ13C values calculated for non-scattering and scattering scenarios. We find that there is a minor bias in δ13C values from scattering and non-scattering retrievals, but this is unrelated to scattering-induced errors.

scholarly journals Imaging in Hard X-ray Astronomy

2003 ◽  
Vol 214 ◽  
pp. 70-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Li
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Signal ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Energy Gamma ◽  
High Resolution Images ◽  
Energy Processes

The energy range of hard X-rays is a key waveband to the study of high energy processes in celestial objects, but still remains poorly explored. In contrast to direct imaging methods used in the low energy X-ray and high energy gamma-ray bands, currently imaging in the hard X-ray band is mainly achieved through various modulation techniques. A new inversion technique, the direct demodulation method, has been developed since early 90s. with this technique, wide field and high resolution images can be derived from scanning data of a simple collimated detector. The feasibility of this technique has been confirmed by experiment, balloon-borne observation and analyzing simulated and real astronomical data. Based the development of methodology and instrumentation, a high energy astrophysics mission – Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) has been proposed and selected in China for a four-year Phase-A study. The main scientific objectives are a full-sky hard X-ray (20–200 keV) imaging survey and high signal-to-noise ratio timing studies of high energy sources.

scholarly journals UV Irradiated Graphene-Based Nanocomposites: Change in the Mechanical Properties by Local HarmoniX Atomic Force Microscopy Detection

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liberata Guadagno ◽  
Carlo Naddeo ◽  
Marialuigia Raimondo ◽  
Vito Speranza ◽  
Roberto Pantani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Graphene Nanoplatelets ◽  
Free Standing ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Acquisition Mode

Epoxy based coatings are susceptible to ultra violet (UV) damage and their durability can be significantly reduced in outdoor environments. This paper highlights a relevant property of graphene-based nanoparticles: Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs) incorporated in an epoxy-based free-standing film determine a strong decrease of the mechanical damages caused by UV irradiation. The effects of UV light on the morphology and mechanical properties of the solidified nanocharged epoxy films are investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), in the acquisition mode “HarmoniX.” Nanometric-resolved maps of the mechanical properties of the multi-phase material evidence that the incorporation of low percentages, between 0.1% and 1.0% by weight, of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in the polymeric film causes a relevant enhancement in the mechanical stability of the irradiated films. The beneficial effect progressively increases with increasing GNP percentage. The paper also highlights the potentiality of AFM microscopy, in the acquisition mode “HarmoniX” for studying multiphase polymeric systems.

Effect of 172-nm UV irradiation on polyimide and its application in surface modification by grafting

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 761-774
Author(s):  
Lopamudra Das ◽  
John C Poutsma ◽  
Michael J Kelley
Keyword(s):  
Uv Irradiation ◽  
Photoelectron Spectroscopy ◽  
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Mechanical Stability ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Angle Measurements ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Grafting Reactions ◽  
Sample Position

Polyimides (PIs) have a wide range of industrial and scientific applications due to their excellent thermal and mechanical stability and chemical resistance. Their response to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is of further interest in high-value applications such as spacecraft technology and electronics packaging. In this work, we investigated the effect of 172-nm UV xenon excimer lamp irradiation on samples of pyromellitimido-oxydianiline (PMDA-ODA) commercial films in the absence of oxygen. The average irradiance received at the sample position was 90 mW/cm2, and the total radiation dosage varied from 0 to 64 J/cm2. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements were used to characterize the effect. Calculated UV-visible spectroscopy absorption spectra were obtained using the ZINDO//B3LYP/3-21G method to give an indication of which orbitals are involved in the transitions near 172 nm. The reactivity of the different UV-treated PI samples toward nitrogen-borne heptafluorodecene vapor was then investigated using the above techniques. Grafting reactions occurred on the surface of the photochemically activated polymer. This study explored the potential for modification of PI surfaces using UV-light-assisted grafting to impart valuable functionalities.

scholarly journals Impact of lossy compression of X-ray projections onto reconstructed tomographic slices

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 1326-1338
Author(s):  
Federica Marone ◽  
Jakob Vogel ◽  
Marco Stampanoni
Keyword(s):  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Lossy Compression ◽  
High Signal ◽  
Signal To Noise ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Data Archiving ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Compression Factor ◽  
Significant Burden ◽  
Noise Ratio

Modern detectors used at synchrotron tomographic microscopy beamlines typically have sensors with more than 4–5 mega-pixels and are capable of acquiring 100–1000 frames per second at full frame. As a consequence, a data rate of a few TB per day can easily be exceeded, reaching peaks of a few tens of TB per day for time-resolved tomographic experiments. This data needs to be post-processed, analysed, stored and possibly transferred, imposing a significant burden onto the IT infrastructure. Compression of tomographic data, as routinely done for diffraction experiments, is therefore highly desirable. This study considers a set of representative datasets and investigates the effect of lossy compression of the original X-ray projections onto the final tomographic reconstructions. It demonstrates that a compression factor of at least three to four times does not generally impact the reconstruction quality. Potentially, compression with this factor could therefore be used in a transparent way to the user community, for instance, prior to data archiving. Higher factors (six to eight times) can be achieved for tomographic volumes with a high signal-to-noise ratio as it is the case for phase-retrieved datasets. Although a relationship between the dataset signal-to-noise ratio and a safe compression factor exists, this is not simple and, even considering additional dataset characteristics such as image entropy and high-frequency content variation, the automatic optimization of the compression factor for each single dataset, beyond the conservative factor of three to four, is not straightforward.

A Spherically Bent Crystal X-Ray Specteometer with Variable Curvature

1973 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 521-530
Author(s):  
Donald L. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Signal ◽  
X Rays ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Bent Crystal ◽  
Variable Curvature ◽  
The Face ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
And Performance

AbstractThe design and performance of a spherically bent crystal x-ray spectrometer with variable curvature are given. A thin crystal with the diffracting planes parallel to the face is mounted on a vacuum chuck consisting of an O-ring in a brass mounting. A controlled partial vacuum is applied behind the crystal to cause spherical deformation of the lattice. Thus, rays from a point source on the focusing circle are diffracted to a line image also on the focusing circle. The differential pressure is automatically varied such that the source-to-crystal and crystal-to-image distances are equal and constant for all Bragg angles and hence the simple θ-2θ motion of a one flat crystal spectrometer is used.The data are accumulated by a scanning proportional counter tube placed behind a vertical slit (perpendicular to the scattering plane) located at the image line. The fixed chord length is 22 cm and the instrument is designed to scan from zero up to 120° 2θ. Crystals are easily interchanged and the automatic vacuum regulator has sufficient flexibility to allow tailoring the spherical bending to crystals of materials of various thicknesses. The resolution is easily adjusted by either the size of the x-ray source or the width of the detector slit. The performance of the spectrometer has been evaluated by characteristic x-rays produced by various samples placed in a demountable x-ray tube. The main advantages of this three-dimensional focusing instrument are the very high signal-to-noise ratio and the very low levels of x-ray flux required.

Ni-Doped ZnO Thin Films: Deposition, Characterization and Photocatalytic Applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1560-1569
Author(s):  
K. Moorthy ◽  
S. S. R. Inbanathan ◽  
C. Gopinathan ◽  
N. P. Lalla ◽  
Abdulaziz Ali Alghamdi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Characteristic Root ◽  
Film Surface ◽  
Hexagonal Wurtzite Structure ◽  
Zno Thin Films ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Doped Zno

Root like structured Ni-doped zinc oxide [Zn(1-x)NixO (x = 0.09)] thin films were deposited on a non-conducting glass substrate by indigenously developed spray pyrolysis system at optimized substrate hotness of 573±5 K. Thus obtained Ni-doped ZnO thin films were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). XRD result revealed that Ni-doped ZnO has a polycrystalline nature with a hexagonal wurtzite structure. For pure ZnO and Ni-doped ZnO thin films, the particle sizes were 60.9 and 53.3 nm while lattice strain values were 1.56×10−3 and 1.14×10−3, respectively. The film surface showed characteristic root-like structure as observed by the SEM. It was observed that the Ni-doped ZnO thin films were grown in high density along with more extent of branching as compared to pure ZnO thin films but retained the root-like morphologies, however, the branches were more-thinner and of shorter lengths. AFM analysis showed that the surface grains of the Ni-doped samples are homogeneous with less RMS roughness values compared with the undoped ZnO samples. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared thin films was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye under UV light irradiation. Pure ZnO and Ni-doped ZnO thin films took 150 min and 100 min to degrade about 60% MO dye, respectively.

The adsorption of progesterone onto mineral surfaces imaged with high-resolution atomic force microscopy

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 419-424
Author(s):  
B. Goritschnig ◽  
K. R. Hallam ◽  
T. McMaster ◽  
V. Ragnarsdottir
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Uv Light ◽  
Pyrolytic Graphite ◽  
Ultra Violet ◽  
Mineral Surfaces ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force

AbstractAtomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to monitor the appearance and behaviour of the hormone progesterone on mineral surfaces, including mica and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Different solvents have been used resulting in various features on the two substrates. After the application of 254 nm ultra-violet (UV) light, changes in structure of the adsorbed hormone have been observed. To understand the reactions at the progesterone-mica interface in aqueous solution, adsorption has been studied in situ with AFM.

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