Influence of the Sol-Gel pH Process and Compact Film on the Efficiency of TiO2-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The influence of pH during hydrolysis of titanium(IV) isopropoxide on the morphological and electronic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel method is investigated and correlated to the photoelectrochemical parameters of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) based on TiO2 films. Nanoparticles prepared under acid pH exhibit smaller particle size and higher surface area, which result in higher dye loadings and better short-circuit current densities than DSCs based on alkaline TiO2-processed films. On the other hand, the product of charge collection and separation quantum yields in films with TiO2 obtained by alkaline hydrolysis is c. a. 27% higher than for the acid TiO2 films. The combination of acid and alkaline TiO2 nanoparticles as mesoporous layer in DSCs results in a synergic effect with overall efficiencies up to 6.3%, which is better than the results found for devices employing one of the nanoparticles separately. These distinct nanoparticles can be also combined by using the layer-by-layer technique (LbL) to prepare compact TiO2 films applied before the mesoporous layer. DSCs employing photoanodes with 30 TiO2 bilayers have shown efficiencies up to 12% higher than the nontreated photoanode ones. These results can be conveniently used to develop optimized synthetic procedures of TiO2 nanoparticles for several dye-sensitized solar cell applications.

Influence of the use of Aliquat 336 in the immobilization procedure in sol-gel of lipase from Bacillus sp ITP-001

Aliquat 336, a liquid hydrophobic material, was used at different concentrations (0.5-3.0%, w/v) as an additive in the preparation of encapsulated lipase from Bacillus sp. ITP-001 on sol-gel silica matrices using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as the precursor. The resulting hydrophobic matrices and immobilized lipases were characterized with regard to specific surface area (BET method), adsorption-desorption isotherms, pore volume (Vp) and size (dp) by nitrogen adsorption (BJH method) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The catalytic activities and the corresponding coupling yields were assayed in the hydrolysis of olive oil. In comparison with pure silica matrices, the immobilization process in the presence of Aliquat 336 decreased the values for specific surface area and increased the values for pore specific volume (Vp) and mean pore diameter (dp). This behavior may be related to the partial adsorption of the enzyme on the external surface of the hydrophobic matrix as indicated by scanning electron microscopy. Aliquat 336 concentrations in the range from 0.5 to 1.5% (w/v) provided immobilized derivatives with higher coupling yields and better substrate affinity. The highest coupling yield (Y-A = 71%) was obtained for the immobilized enzyme prepared in the presence of 1.5% Aliquat which gave the following morphological properties: specific surface area = 183 m(2)/g, pore specific volume (Vp) = 0.36 cc/g and mean pore diameter (dp)= 91 angstrom. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Transparent UV-absorbers thin films of zinc oxide: Ceria system synthesized via sol-gel process

Transparent nanostructure ZnO:CeO2 and ZnO thin films to use as solar protector were prepared by non-alkoxide sol-gel process and deposited on boronsilicate glass substrate by dip-coating technique and then heated at 300-500 degrees C. The films were characterized structurally, morphologically and optically by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis transmittance spectroscopy. The coatings presented high transparency in the visible region and excellent absorption in the UV. The band gap of the deposited films was estimated between 3.10 and 3.18 eV. Absorption of the films in the UV was increased by presence of cerium. The results suggest that the materials are promising candidates to use as coating solar protective. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative study on structure and magnetic properties of polycrystalline PrxY1-xBa2Cu3O7-delta prepared in oxygen and argon atmosphere

We report a systematic study on the influence of the synthesis routes on the structural and magnetic properties of polycrystalline PrxY1-xBa2Cu3O7-delta. We have prepared high-quality samples of this material by following a sol-gel method based on heat treatment in both inert argon and oxygen atmospheres in order to compare their effect on the formation of the superconducting phase using X-ray powder diffraction. Magnetic measurements (DC and AC susceptibility) clearly demonstrate that, for the same concentration of Pr, the superconducting transition temperature markedly increases in all samples prepared in argon atmosphere, including pure Pr-123. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal stability and the magnetic properties of hybrid vanadium oxide-tetradecylamine nanotubes

Vanadium oxide nanotubes (NTs) were synthesized by the sol-gel method followed by a long-term hydrothermal treatment. The obtained nanotubes have a multiwall structure, and 70% of vanadium ions are in the V4+ state. This percentage was derived by evaluating three components of the magnetic susceptibility; namely, (i) the paramagnetic Curie-Weiss behavior, (ii) antiferromagnetic dimers, and (iii) magnetic trimers. The as-made NTs were annealed in situ in the cavity of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer. The line shape changes irreversibly at 390 K, and the EPR susceptibility presents an anomaly at 425 K. These changes are interpreted as a partial oxidation of the V4+ ions and consequently a decrease in the concentration of the magnetic species. The quantification of the V4+ ions of the annealed NTs reveals a diminution to 39% of V4+, a weakening of the Curie-Weiss and antiferromagnetic dimers contributions, and the suppression of magnetic trimers. Vibrational studies confirm the decrease of V4+ amount. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4749417]

The influence of different co-catalysts in Pt-based ternary and quaternary electro-catalysts on the electro-oxidation of methanol and ethanol in acid media

One of the key objectives in fuel cell technology is to reduce Pt loading by the improvement of its catalytic activity towards alcohol oxidation. Here, a sol-gel based method was used to prepare ternary and quaternary carbon supported nanoparticles by combining Pt-Ru with Mo, Ta, Pb, Rh or Ir, which were used as electro-catalysts for the methanol and ethanol oxidation reactions in acid medium. Structural characterization performed by XRD measurements revealed that crystalline structures with crystallites ranging from 2.8 to 4.1 nm in size and with different alloy degrees were produced. Tantalum and lead deposited as a heterogeneous mixture of oxides with different valences resulting in materials with complex structures. The catalysts activities were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and by Tafel plots and the results showed that the activity towards methanol oxidation was highly dependent of the alloy degree, while for ethanol the presence of a metal capable to promote the break of C-C bond, such as Rh, was necessary for a good performance. Additionally, the catalysts containing of TaOx or PbOx resulted in the best materials due to different effects: the hi-functional mechanism promoted by TaOx and a better dispersion of the catalysts constituents promoted by PbOx. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vanadium and Titanium Mixed Oxide Films: Synthesis, Characterization and Application as Ion Sensor

Vanadium/titanium mixed oxide films were produced using the sol-gel route. The structural investigation revealed that increased TiO2 molar ratio in the mixed oxide disturbs the V2O5 crystalline structure and makes it amorphous. This blocks the TiO2 phase transformation, so TiO2 stabilizes in the anatase phase. In addition the surface of the sample always presents larger amounts of TiO2 than expected, revealing a concentration gradient along the growth direction. For increased TiO2 molar ratios the roughness of the surface is reduced. Ion sensors were fabricated using the extended gate field effect transistor configuration. The obtained sensitivities varied in the range of 58 mV/pH down to 15 mV/pH according to the composition and morphology of the surface of the samples. Low TiO2 amounts presented better sensing properties that might be related to the cracked and inhomogeneous surfaces. Rising the TiO2 quantity in the films produces homogeneous surfaces but diminishes their sensitivities. Thus, the present paper reveals that the compositional and structural aspects change the surface morphology and electrical properties accounting for the final ion sensing properties of the V2O5/TiO2 films. (C) 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.053206jes] All rights reserved.

Influence of titanium and lutetium on the persistent luminescence of ZrO2

Non-doped as well as titanium and lutetium doped zirconia (ZrO2) materials were synthesized via the sol-gel method and structurally characterized with X-ray powder diffraction. The addition of Ti in the zirconia lattice does not change the crystalline structure whilst the Lu doping introduces a small fraction of the tetragonal phase. The UV excitation results in a bright white-blue luminescence at ca. 500 nm for all the materials which emission could be assigned to the Ti3+ e(g) -> t(2g) transition. The persistent luminescence originates from the same Ti3+ center. The thermoluminescence data shows a well-defined though rather similar defect structures for all the zirconia materials. The kinetics of persistent luminescence was probed with the isothermal decay curve analyses which indicated significant retrapping. The short duration of persistent luminescence was attributed to the quasi-continuum distribution of the traps and to the possibility of shallow traps even below the room temperature. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America

Synthesis, characterization, optical absorption, luminescence and defect centres in Er3+ and Yb3+ co-doped MgAl2O4 phosphors

The Er3+-Yb3+ co-doped MgAl2O4 phosphor powders have been prepared by the combustion method. The phosphor powders are well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive (EDX) techniques. The absorption spectrum of Er3+/Er3+-Yb3+ doped/co-doped phosphor powder has been recorded in the UV-Vis-NIR region of the electro-magnetic spectrum. The evidence for indirect pumping under 980 nm excitation of Er3+ from Yb3+ was observed in the MgAl2O4 matrix material. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies were carried out to identify the defect centres responsible for the thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) process in MgAl2O4:Er3+ phosphor. Three defect centres were identified in irradiated phosphor by ESR measurements which were carried out at room temperature and these were assigned to an O- ion and F+ centres. O- ion (hole centre) appears to correlate with the low temperature TSL peak at 210 A degrees C and one of the F+ centres (electron centre) is related to the high temperature peak at 460 A degrees C.