Evaluation of pure and Ag-doped TiO2 films in the photocatalytic activity of phenol

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Sínteses e caracterizações de materiais microporosos com estrutura cristalográfica mista e suas aplicações como catalisadores em reações de conversão de biomassa em produtos de química fina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structural and Electronic Effects of Incorporating Mn in TiO2 Films Grown by Sputtering: Anatase versus Rutile

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Electronic structure, growth mechanism and photoluminescence of CaWO4 crystals

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Interface formation of nanostructured heterojunction SnO 2:Eu/GaAs and electronic transport properties

Thin films of tin dioxide (SnO2) are deposited by the sol-gel-dip-coating technique, along with GaAs layers, deposited by the resistive evaporation technique. The as-built heterojunction has potential application in optoelectronic devices, combining the emission from the rare-earth doped transparent oxide (Eu3+-doped SnO2 presents very efficient red emission) with a high mobility semiconductor. The advantage of this structure is the possibility of separation of the rare-earth emission centers from the electron scattering, leading to a strongly indicated combination for electroluminescence. Electrical characterization of the heterojunction SnO2:Eu/GaAs shows a significant conductivity increase when compared to the conductivity of the individual films, and the monochromatic light irradiation (266 nm) at low temperature of the heterojunction GaAs/SnO2:Eu leads to intense conductivity increase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the heterojunction cross section shows high adherence and good morphological quality of the interfaces substrate/SnO2 and SnO2/GaAs, even though the atomic force microscopy (AFM) image of the GaAs surface shows disordered particles, which increases with sample thickness. On the other hand, the good morphology of the SnO2:Eu surface, shown by AFM, assures the good electrical performance of the heterojunction. The observed improvement on the electrical transport properties is probably related to the formation of short conduction channels at the semiconductors interface, which may exhibit two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) behavior. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigations of Electronic Structure and Photoluminescence Properties of beta-Ag2MoO4 Microcrystals

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structural, electronic and optical properties of Fe(III) complex with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Correlation between structural and electronic order-disorder effects and optical properties in ZnO nanocrystals

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of Er:YAG laser and diamond drill on hybrid layer morphology obtained with self-etch adhesive: analysis by SEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Er:YAG (L) and diamond drills (DD) on: 1) the microshear bond strength (MPa); 2) the adhesive interface of two-step (TS) – Adper Scotchbond Multipurpose and one-step (OS) adhesives – Adper EasyOne, both from 3M ESPE. Material and methods: According to the preparation condition and adhesives, the samples were divided into four groups: DD_TS (control); DD_OS; L_TS and L_OS. 60 bovine incisors were randomly divided into experimental and groups: 40 for microshear bond strength (n = 10) and 20 for the adhesive interface morphology [6 to measure the thickness of the hybrid layer (HL) and length of tags (t) by CLSM (n = 3); 12 to the adhesive interface morphology by SEM (n = 3) and 2 to illustrate the effect of the instruments on dentine by SEM (n = 1)]. To conduct the microshear bond strength test, four cylinders (0.7 mm in diameter and 1 mm in height with area of adhesion of 0.38 mm) were constructed with resin composite (Filtek Z350 XT – 3M ESPE) on each dentin surface treated by either L or DD and after adhesives application. Microshear bond strength was performed in universal testing machine (EMIC 2000) with load cell of 500 kgf and a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm / min. Adhesive interface was characterized by thickness of hybrid layer (HL) and length of tags (t) in nm, with the aid of UTHSCSA ImageTool software. Results: Microshear bond strength values were: L_TS 34.10 ± 19.07, DD_TS 24.26 ± 9.35, L_OS 33.18 ± 12.46, DD_OS 21.24 ± 13.96. Two-way ANOVA resulted in statistically significant differences only for instruments (p = 0.047). Mann-Whitney identified the instruments which determined significant differences for HL thickness and tag length (t). Concerning to the adhesive types, these differences were only observed for (t). Conclusion: It can be concluded that 1) laser Er:YAG results in higher microshear bond strength values regardless of the adhesive system (TS and OS); 2) the tags did not significant affect the microshear bond strength; 3) the adhesive interface was affected by both the instruments for cavity preparation and the type of adhesive system used.

A joint experimental and theoretical study on the electronic structure and photoluminescence properties of Al-2(WO4)(3) powders

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Combining SERRS and electrochemistry to characterize sensors based on biomembrane mimetic models formed by phospholipids

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Preparation and characterization of ordered intermetallic platinum phases for electrocatalytic applications

Ordered intermetallic phases of Pt with several transition metals have been prepared and their electrocatalytic properties studied. In light of these tests it is proposed that these catalysts could be used as electrodes in fuel cells, as they combine an excellent capacity to adsorb organic fuels at the Pt sites with low susceptibility to being poisoned by intermediates and reaction products at the transition-metal sites. An experimental procedure used to obtain the four intermetallic phases Pt-M (M = Mn, Pb, Sb and Sn) is described. The phases thus produced were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with surface analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The data thus obtained support the conclusion that the method described here is highly effective for the preparation of Pt-M phases featuring a range of structural and electronic modifications that will allow a useful relation to be established between their physicochemical properties and predicted electrocatalytic activity. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Flexural Test on Recycled Polystyrene

In socio-environmental scenario increased the nature resources concern beyond products and subproducts reuse. Recycling is the approach for a material or energy reintroducing in productive system. This method allows the reduction of garbage volume dumped in environment, saving energy and decreasing the requirement of natural resources use. In general, the ending of expanded polystyrene is deposited sanitary landfills or garbage dumps without control that take large volume and spreads easily by aeolian action, with consequently environmental pollution, however, the recycling avoids their misuse and the obtainment from petroleum is reduced. This work recycled expanded polystyrene via merger and/or dissolution by solvents for the production of integrated circuits boards. The obtained material was characterized in flexural mode according to ASTM D 790 and results were compared with phenolite, traditionally used. Specimens fractures were observed by electronic microscopy scanning in order to establish patterns. Expanded Polyestirene recycled as well as phenolite were also thermo analyzed by TGA and DSC. The method using dissolution produced very brittle materials. The method using merger showed no voids formation nor increased the brittleness of the material. The recycled polystyrene presented a strength value significantly lower than that for the phenolite. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of ICM11

Effect of Er : YAG and diode laser irradiation on the root surface: Morphological and thermal analysis

Background: the aim of the present study was to compare the effects of Er:YAG and diode laser treatments of the root surface on intrapulpal temperature after scaling and root planing with hand instruments.Methods: Fifteen extracted single-rooted teeth were scaled and root planed with hand instruments. The teeth were divided into 3 groups of 5 each and irradiated on their buccal and lingual surfaces: group A: Er:YAG laser, 2.94 mum/100 mJ/10 Hz/ 30 seconds; group B: diode laser, 810 nm/1.0 W/0.05 ms/30 seconds; group C: diode laser, 810 nm/1.4 W/0.05 ms/30 seconds. The temperature was monitored by means of a type T thermocouple (copper-constantan) positioned in the pulp chamber to assess pulpal temperature during and before irradiation. Afterwards, the specimens were longitudinally sectioned, and the buccal and lingual surfaces of each root were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.Results: In the Er:YAG laser group, the thermal analysis revealed an average temperature of -2.2 +/- 1.5degreesC, while in the diode laser groups, temperatures were 1.6 +/- 0.8degreesC at 1.0 W and 3.3 +/- 1.0degreesC at 1.4 W. Electronic micrographs revealed that there were no significant morphological changes, such as charring, melting, or fusion, in any group, although the specimens were found to be more irregular in the Er:YAG laser group.Conclusions: the application of Er:YAG and diode lasers at the utilized parameters did not induce high pulpal temperatures. Root surface irregularities were more pronounced after irradiation with an Er:YAG laser than with a diode laser.

Comparative scanning electron microscopic study of the effect of different dental conditioners on dentin micromorphology

This study evaluated comparatively by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) the effect of different dental conditioners on dentin micromorphology, when used according to the same protocol. Forty dentin sticks were obtained from 20 caries-free third human molars and were assigned to 4 groups corresponding to 3 conditioners (phosphoric acid 37%, Clearfil SE Bond and iBond) and an untreated control group. After application of the conditioners, the specimens were immersed in 50% ethanol solution during 10 s, chemically fixed and dehydrated to prepare them to SEM analysis. In the control group, dentin surface was completely covered by smear layer and all dentinal tubules were occluded. In the phosphoric acid-etched group, dentin surface was completely clean and presented exposed dentinal tubule openings; this was the only group in which the tubules exhibited the funnel-shaped aspect. In the groups conditioned with Clearfil SE Bond primer and iBond, which are less acidic than phosphoric acid, tubule openings were occluded or partially occluded, though smear layer removal was observed. SE Bond was more efficient in removing the smear layer than iBond. In the Clearfil SE Bond group, the cuff-like aspect of peritubular dentin was more evident. It may be concluded all tested conditioners were able to change dentin morphology. However, it cannot be stated that the agent aggressiveness was the only cause of the micromorphological alterations because a single morphological pattern was not established for each group, but rather an association of different aspects, according to the aggressiveness of the tested conditioner.