Investigação das propriedades ópticas, elétricas e estruturais em ametista

Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais - FC

A cor do citrino: efeito de irradiação e tratamento térmico

Quartz crystals under natural or artificial irradiation can acquire dark shades and variations btween smoky, black and brown but when submitted at heat-treatment they can become greenish, yellowish or brownish, called citrine at gem shops. In this work a lot of samples was collected from different places in Brazil (Corinto - MG, Diamantina - MG, Sento Sé - BA and Santana do Araguaia – PA) and at first they were submitted at artificial irradiation resulting in dark colours. After that they were submitted at heat-treatment in differents temperatures and time of exposure to record when color change happened to light colours. It variated according to each origin, temperature, time of expousure and different aluminiun and other chemical elements content. Its was possible to define the ideal conditions to results better colours and related it with geology and chemical quartz composition.

Sugarcane bagasse ash as a potential quartz replacement in red ceramic

Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is an industrial waste that contains silicon and aluminum oxides as the major components and iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium oxides as the main minor components. In this paper, SCBA from one Brazilian factory was characterized and tested for its influence on the ceramic properties of clay/ash ceramic probes. Prismatic probes were pressed (18 MPa) using a ceramic mass mixed with 0%, 5%, 8%, and 10% ash. The probes were fired at temperatures between 800 degrees and 1200 degrees C. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, thermal analysis (differential thermal analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis/differential thermogravimetric analysis), and tests for texture (particle-size analysis), flexural strength, and linear shrinkage were carried out to characterize the samples. The results showed that the amount of ash to be incorporated will depend on mainly the composition of clay but also ash, and indicated that the clay used in this work can incorporate up to 10% weight of ash to produce solid bricks. The results also showed an improvement in ceramic/ash properties up to sintering temperatures higher than 1000 degrees C.

Piezoelectric biosensors for real-time monitoring of hybridization and detection of hepatitis C virus

The piezoelectric quartz crystal resonators modified with oligonucleotide probes were used for detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in serum. The gold electrodes on either rough or smooth surface crystals were modified with a self-assembled monolayer of cystamine. After activation with glutaraldehyde, either avidin or streptavidin were immobilized and used for attachment of biotinylated DNA probes (four different sequences). Piezoelectric biosensors were used in a flow-through setup for direct monitoring of DNA resulting from the reverse transcriptase-linked polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of the original viral RNA. The samples of patients with hepatitis C were analyzed and the results were compared with the standard RT-PCR procedure (Amplicor test kit of Roche, microwell format with spectrophotometric evaluation). The piezoelectric hybridization assay was completed in 10 min and the same sensing surface was suitable for repeated use. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Wannier functions of isolated bands in one-dimensional crystals

We present a simple procedure to obtain the maximally localized Wannier function of isolated bands in one-dimensional crystals with or without inversion symmetry. First, we discuss the generality of dealing with real Wannier functions. Next, we use a transfer-matrix technique to obtain nonoptimal Bloch functions which are analytic in the wave number. This produces two classes of real Wannier functions. Then, the minimization of the variance of the Wannier functions is performed, by using the antiderivative of the Berry connection. In the case of centrosymmetric crystals, this procedure leads to the Wannier-Kohn functions. The asymptotic behavior of the Wannier functions is also analyzed. The maximally localized Wannier functions show the expected exponential and power-law decays. Instead, nonoptimal Wannier functions may show reduced exponential and anisotropic power-law decays. The theory is illustrated with numerical calculations of Wannier functions for conduction electrons in semiconductor superlattices.

Toward an understanding of intermediate- and short-range defects in ZnO single crystals. A combined experimental and theoretical study

A joint use of experimental and theoretical techniques allows us to understand the key role of intermediate- and short-range defects in the structural and electronic properties of ZnO single crystals obtained by means of both conventional hydrothermal and microwave-hydrothermal synthesis methods. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, photoluminescence, scanning electronic and transmission electron microscopies were used to characterize the thermal properties, crystalline and optical features of the obtained nano and microwires ZnO structures. In addition, these properties were further investigated by means of two periodic models, crystalline and disordered ZnO wurtzite structure, and first principles calculations based on density functional theory at the B3LYP level. The theoretical results indicate that the key factor controlling the electronic behavior can be associated with a symmetry breaking process, creating localized electronic levels above the valence band.

RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION of SUSPENSIONS of SUCROSE CRYSTALS IN SATURATED SUCROSE SOLUTIONS

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

Interfacial fracture of dentin adhesively bonded to quartz-fiber reinforced composite

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of interfacial failure in a multilayered structure consisting of a dentin/resin cement/quartz-fiber reinforced composite (FRC). Slices of dentin close to the pulp chamber were sandwiched by two half-circle discs made of a quartz-fiber reinforced composite, bonded with bonding agent (All-bond 2, BISCO, Schaumburg) and resin cement (Duo-link. BISCO, Schaumburg) to make Brazil-nut sandwich specimens for interfacial toughness testing. Interfacial fracture toughness (strain energy release rate, G) was measured as a function of mode mixity by changing loading angles from 0 degrees to 15 degrees. The interfacial fracture surfaces were then examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) to determine the failure modes when loading angles changed. A computational model was also developed to calculate the driving forces, stress intensity factors and mode mixities. Interfacial toughness increased from approximate to 1.5 to 3.2 J/m(2) when the loading angle increases from approximate to 0, 0 to 15 degrees. The hybridized dentin/cement interface appeared to be tougher than the resin cement/quartz-fiber reinforced epoxy. The Brazil-nut sandwich specimen was a suitable method to investigate the mechanical integrity of dentin/cement/FRC interfaces. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quartz Crystal Microbalance monitoring the real-time binding of lectin with carbohydrate with high and low molecular mass

Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) was used to monitor the mass changes on a quartz crystal surface containing immobilized lectins that interacted with carbohydrates. The strategy for lectin immobilization was developed on the basis of a multilayer system composed of Au-cystamine-glutaraldehyde-lectin. Each step of the immobilization procedure was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The system was used to study the interactions of Concanavalin A (ConA) with maltose and Jacalin with Fetuin. The real-time binding of different concentrations of carbohydrate to the immobilized lectin was monitored by means of QCM measurements and the data obtained allowed for the construction of Langmuir isotherm curves. The association constants determined for the specific interactions analyzed here were (6.4 +/- 0.2) X 10(4) M-1 for Jacalin-Fetuin and (4.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(2) M-1 for ConA-maltose. These results indicate that the QCM constitutes a suitable method for the analysis of lectin-carbohydrate interactions, even when assaying low molecular mass ligands such as disaccharides. Published by Elsevier B.V.

A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Nanomorphology of CaWO4 Crystals

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)

Quartz crystal microbalance as a tool for kinetic enzymatic assays by variation of pH

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

Study of zinc hexacyanoferrate-modified platinum electrodes using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Role of intermediary cells in Peltodon radicans (Lamiaceae) in the transfer of calcium and formation of calcium oxalate crystals

Com o objetivo de estudar a relação entre cristais de oxalato de cálcio e floema, fragmentos de folhas de Peltodon radicans foram fixados e processados, segundo métodos usuais, para estudos ao microscópio de luz e eletrônico de transmissão. Observou-se que os cristais ocorrem nas células da bainha do feixe, lateralmente em relação ao floema. Células intermediárias estabelecem conexão entre elemento crivado e células da bainha, portadoras de cristais, com crescimento intrusivo entre estas. Íons cálcio são abundantes no citoplasma das células da bainha que contém cristais de oxalato de cálcio. Nas células intermediárias a detecção ultra-citoquímica de cálcio também apresentou resultados positivos, enquanto nos elementos crivados a presença deste íon não foi constatada. Há, portanto, um gradiente crescente de concentração de cálcio dos elementos crivados para as células da bainha. Assim, formulamos a hipótese de que a formação de cristais de oxalato de cálcio tem, em P. radicans, o objetivo de controlar os níveis de cálcio citossólico nos elementos crivados.

Vibrational spectra of pilocarpine hydrochloride crystals

Pilocarpine is a natural substance with potential application in the treatment of several diseases. In this work Fourier Transform (FT)-Raman spectrum and the Fourier Transform infra red (FT-IR) spectrum of pilocarpine hydrochloride C11H17N2O2+.Cl- were investigated at 300 K. Vibrational wavenumber and wave vector have been predicted using density functional theory (B3LYP) calculations with the 6-31 G(d,p) basis set. A comparison with experiment allowed us to assign most of the normal modes of the crystal.