Влияние ультрафиолетового света на люминесценцию (700-1000 nm) кристаллов LiF и LiF : ОН, облученных в ядерном реакторе

The emission (700-1000 nm) and absorption (200-800 nm) spectra of LiF and LiF:OH crystals irradiated in a reactor and exposed to ultraviolet light, including those combined with mechanical loading, have been studied. The aim of this work is to study the behavior of laser color centers in these systems. In the 710–825 nm range, diametrically opposite results are observed: high stability of F4-like centers in “pure” LiF and their sharp destruction in LiF:OH crystals. At the same time, in both groups, F3 and F4 centers are destroyed and F2+ and F3- laser centers (825–925 nm) are intensely accumulated. Upon subsequent exposure at room temperature and darkness, spontaneous disintegration of laser centers is observed, accompanied by an increase of concentration of F4-like centers and restoration of the microstructure of irradiated crystals.

The Transformation of Inorganic and Methylmercury in the Presence of l-Cysteine Capped CdSe Nanoparticles

Transformations of mercury (Hg) forms in the aquatic environment is a crucial aspect of Hg fate, transport and the bioaccumulation of methylmercury (CH3Hg; MeHg), which is the form that drives most human health concerns. Transformations between Hg forms on surfaces have been inadequately studied but here we report on the interaction of inorganic Hg (HgII) and MeHg with chalcogenide nanoparticles (NPs); specifically L-cysteine capped CdSe nanocrystals. The study sheds light on the transformation of the Hg species and the interaction mechanisms, by examining the product composition, reaction mass balance and the distribution between the liquid and solid phase. The results showed that the quenching of the photoluminescence (PL) of CdSe NPs was greater for HgII than MeHg, and that HgII caused significant PL quenching even when its concentration was in the nM range. Over 90% of HgII was found associated with the solid phase while most MeHg existed in the liquid phase in the experimental solutions. No dimethylmercury ((CH3)2Hg; DMeHg) was produced from the interaction of MeHg and the NPs, in contrast to findings with microparticles. However, a fast and complete MeHg transformation into HgII occurred when the MeHg + NPs mixture was exposed to light. A scheme for the MeHg degradation was derived and is presented, and it was concluded that the precipitation of HgSe accelerated the MeHg degradation. These results provide insight into the abiotic pathways for MeHg degradation in environmental waters in the presence of NPs.

Emerging Application of Magnetic Nanoparticles for Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer

Cancer is a disease that has resulted in millions of deaths worldwide. The current conventional therapies utilized for the treatment of cancer have detrimental side effects. This led scientific researchers to explore new therapeutic avenues with an improved benefit to risk profile. Researchers have found nanoparticles, particles between the 1 and 100 nm range, to be encouraging tools in the area of cancer. Magnetic nanoparticles are one of many available nanoparticles at present. Magnetic nanoparticles have increasingly been receiving a considerable amount of attention in recent years owing to their unique magnetic properties, among many others. Magnetic nanoparticles can be controlled by an external magnetic field, signifying their ability to be site specific. The most popular approaches for the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles are co-precipitation, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal, and polyol synthesis. The functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles is essential as it significantly increases their biocompatibility. The most utilized functionalization agents are comprised of polymers. The synthesis and functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles will be further explored in this review. The biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles investigated in this review are drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, and diagnosis. The diagnosis aspect focuses on the utilization of magnetic nanoparticles as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical trials and toxicology studies relating to the application of magnetic nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will also be discussed in this review.

Design, Characterization and Applications of Functional Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials are commonly defined as particles existing in nature or artificially manufactured materials that have one or more external dimensions in the 1–100 nm range [...]

High Reliability Evaluation and Lifetime Prediction of 50 GHz Athermal AWG Module

A 96-channel (50 GHz-spacing) athermal AWG has been developed. It has a wide operating range due to reduced temperature dependence than conventional AWG. The temperature dependence of the center wavelength of the developed module satisfied the ±0.05 nm range in all channels in the temperature range of −40 °C to 85 °C, and the insertion loss variation was also less than ±0.5 dB. As a result of validating its reliability through tests based on Telcordia-GR-1209 and GR-1221, the temperature dependence of the center wavelength satisfied the ±0.022 nm range, and the insertion loss variation was also less than ±0.2 dB. Accelerated life testing showed an expected service life of over 36.7 years, ensuring long-term safety of communication quality in harsh indoor and outdoor environments.

Properties of Al2O3 Thin Films Grown by PE-ALD at Low Temperature Using H2O and O2 Plasma Oxidants

Al2O3 layers with thicknesses in the 25–120 nm range were deposited by plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition at 70 °C. Trimethylaluminum was used as organometallic precursor, O2 and H2O as oxidant agents and Ar as a purge gas. The deposition cycle consisted of 50 ms TMA pulse/10 s purge time/6 s of plasma oxidation at 200 W/10 s purge time. The optical constants and thicknesses of the grown layers were determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry, while the roughness was measured by atomic force microscopy, giving RMS values in the 0.29–0.32 nm range for films deposited under different conditions and having different thicknesses. High transmittance, ~90%, was measured by UV–Vis spectroscopy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that, with both types of oxidants, the obtained films are close to stoichiometric composition and, with high purity, no carbon was detected. Electrical characterization showed good insulating properties of both types of films, though the H2O oxidant leads to better I-V characteristics.

Red-Emissive Nanocrystals of Cs4MnxCd1-xSb2Cl12 Layered Perovskite

Layered double perovskite are currently investigated as emerging halide-based materials for optoelectronic applications. Herein, we present the synthesis of Cs4MnxCd1-xSb2Cl12 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanocrystals (NCs). X-ray powder diffraction evidences the retaining of the same crystal structure for all the inspected composition; transmission electron microscopy revealed monodisperse particles with a mean size of 10.6 nm. The absorption spectra seem to be mostly determined by transitions related to Sb3+, whereas Mn2+ induced a red emission in the 625 – 650 nm range. The emission intensity and position varies with the Mn2+ content and reaches the maximum for the composition with x = 0.12. Finally, we demonstrated that the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the latter NCs was boosted from 0.3% to 3.9% through a post-synthesis treatment. The present work enlarges the knowledge of colloidal layered double perovskite nanocrystals, stimulating future investigations of this emerging class of material.

Spectral Emission Signatures from Cased High Explosive Charges

Spectroscopic signatures of cased high-explosive charge denotations are examined using emission spectroscopy with sub nanometer resolution. Eleven distinct case materials are investigated for atomic features of their major alloying elements. Molecular features of case material combustion products are also investigated for five case materials. Emission is monitored within the 275–425 nm range for atomic features and in the 310–755 nm range for molecular features. Major alloying elements with concentrations greater than 5% are generally detected through atomic emission. Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, Cr, Mn, Pb, and Ni are all detected in concentrations less than 5%. Undetected elements include Zn, Nb, Ta, and V. Molecular emission from aluminum monoxide, titanium monoxide, and CN is measured for aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, and carbon fiber cases, respectively.

α,α-Difluorophosphonohydroxamic Acid Derivatives among the Best Antibacterial Fosmidomycin Analogues

Three α,α-difluorophosphonate derivatives of fosmidomycin were synthesized from diethyl 1,1-difluorobut-3-enylphosphonate and were evaluated on Escherichia coli. Two of them are among the best 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase inhibitors, with IC50 in the nM range, much better than fosmidomycin, the reference compound. They also showed an enhanced antimicrobial activity against E. coli on Petri dishes in comparison with the corresponding phosphates and the non-fluorinated phosphonate.