Study of Solid-Phase Reactions of metals on GaAs

To make stable and reproducible contacts to GaAs, metals which react with GaAs in the solid-phase should be favored. In this study, contacts formed employing Pd/TiN/Pd/Ag, Pd:Mg/TiN/Pd:Mg/Ag and Ru/TiN/Ru/Ag are studied. The TiN layer is included to investigate its application as diffusion barrier in these metallizations. Contacts to n-GaAs are rectifying and the value of barrier height is modified upon annealing. Contacts to p-GaAs are initially rectifying but exhibit ohmic behaviour after annealing. The modifications in the electrical properties are attributed to the solid-phase reaction of metal and GaAs. The integrity of the contacts relies critically on the success of TiN to prevent the intermixing of Ag overlayer and the underlying layers. At elevated annealing temperatures (450°C), TiN fails to function as a diffusion barrier. As a result, the properties of the contact deteriorates.

稀土氟化物固体电解质的制备、结构及电学、传感性能的研究

我们利用湿法制备了单一稀土氟化物LnF_3(Ln = La 、Ce、Nd、Gd、Tb、Dy、Er、Yb、Y), 并采用高温固相反应制备了稀土掺杂氟化物Ln_(1-x)MxF_(3-δ)(Ln = La、Ce、Gd、Yb、Y M = Ca、Sr、Ba)。用X射张衍射方法研究了它们的晶体结构。对单一稀土氟化物，LaF_3、CeF_3、NdF_3为六方晶系，GdF_3、TbF_3、DyF_3、DrF_3、YbF_3、YF_3为正交晶系。对掺杂氟化物，La_(0.95)Ba_(0.05)F_(3-δ)、Ce_(0.95)Ca_(0.05)F_(3-δ)、Yb_(0.70)Sr_(0.30)F_(3-δ)为固溶体，Ce_(0.95)Ca_(0.05)F_(3-δ)的晶胞参数比CeF_3的略为变小；Gd_(0.85)Ca_(0.15)F_(3-δ)、Y_(0.71)Ca_(0.29)F_(3-δ)为新化合物，Gd_(0.85)Ca_(0.15)F_(3-δ)的晶体结构由GdF_3的正交晶系变为六方晶系，其晶胞参数为：a=3.973A, C=7.124A, γ=120°, Y_(0.71)Ca_(0.29)F_(3-δ)化合物的晶体结构与YF_3相同为正交晶系，晶胞参数却较小：a=3.683A、b=6.978A, c=3.396A。 我们对氟化物的烧结陶瓷片进行了直流电导率测量。对单一稀土氟化物，结果表明六方结构的化合物的电导率高于正交结构的，对于相同结构的氟化物，一般地，稀土离子半径越大，电导率越高；对于掺杂氟化物，由于二价碱土金属离子掺杂可以提高氟离子空位浓度，因此掺杂物的电异率均高于对应的单一稀土氟化物，其中Gd_(0.85)Ca_(0.15)F_(3-δ)掺杂后变成更利于离子导电的六方结构。采用压片工艺，以La_(0.95)Ba_(0.05)F_(3-δ)、Ce_(0.95)Ca_(0.05)F_(3-δ)、Gd_(0.85)Ca_(0.15)F_(3-δ)和Y_(0.71)Ca_(0.29)F_(3-δ)为固体电解质材料制备电位输出式氧传感器件，并利用调节N_2、O_2流量比控制氧分压的方法，对器件的敏感性能进行测试。结果表明该类器件可在150 ℃的低温下对氧气敏感，器件的输出电位差与氧分压的对数值有较好的线性关系。器件的响应时间在2分与9分之间。该类器件的敏感机理是：氧气先吸附敏感电极上，发生还原反应后生成的氧负离子在敏感电极与固体电解质界面上发生晶格置换反应，使得氧分压的改变通过快离子即氟离子在两个界面上（另一界面为参比电极与固体电解质界面）的电化学势差的变化与输出电位差值的改变联系起来，从而实现利用输出电位差测定氧分压的目的。根据使用的敏感电极材料，可以有单电子反应和双电子反应两种敏感机理。器件是由参比电极、固体电解质、敏感电极三个部分构成。我们采用固定其中二个部分的材料，改变第三个部分的用料的方法，对器件的敏感性进行了对比研究：A、我们首先固定固体电解质为Ce_(0.95)Ca_(0.05)F_(3-δ)、敏感电极材料为Pt黑，采用不同的参比电极材料Bi+BiF_3、Sb+SbF_3、Mg+MgF_2、Zn+ZnF_2制备了器件。性能测试结果表明使用Bi+BiF_3参比电极材料的器件稳定性和敏感性都比其它器件好。器件的输出电位差取决于参比电极氟化物的标准生成自由能的大小。B、固定Bi+BiF_3为参比电极材料，Ce_(0.95)Ca_(0.05)F_(3-δ)为固体电解质，使用不同的敏感电极材料Pt黑、Pd粉、Ag粉和RuO_2制备器件。性能测试结果表明：Pt材料器件的精确度较高，Pd材料器件的响应最快（2分），RuO_2材料器件的敏感性较好。使用Ag、RuO_2敏感电极材料的器件采用的是单电子反应敏感机理：O_2 + e <-> O_2~-, O_2~- + V_F + F_(F-bar)~- <-> O_(F-bar) + O_F + F_(F-bar)。而使用Pt、Pd敏感电极材料的器件采用双电子反应敏感机理：O_2 + 2e <-> 2O~-, 2O~- + F_(F-bar) <->O_(F-bar) + F~-。C、我们固定Bi+BiF_3为参比电极材料，Pt和RuO_2为敏感电极材料，使用La_(0.95)Ba_(0.05)F_(3-δ)、Ce_(0.95)Ca_(0.05)F_(3-δ)、Gd_(0.85)(Ca_(0.015)F_(3-δ)、Yb_(0.70)Ca_(0.29)F_(3-δ)制备了两个系列的器件。结果表明，无论是使用Pt还是使用RuO_2为敏感电极材料，都有下列的结论：用Ce_(0.95)Ca_(0.05)F_(3-δ)的器件的精确度较高，La_(0.95)Ba_(0.05)F_(3-δ)材料器件的敏感性最好，而Gd_(0.85)(Ca_(0.015)F_(3-δ的响应最快（Pt器件2分，RuO_2器件5分）。并未发现同时具备各种较好性能的器件，与敏感电极材料对器件性能的影响相比，固体电解质材料的影响要小。对于材料完全相同的器件，我们还对工艺条件影响作了初步研究。制备器件的工艺条件由于各种难以控制的因素不会每次、每批完全相同，工艺条件的差别也会影响器件的各方面性能。研究结果表明，工艺差别对器件的输出电位差值和响应时间的影响较大，对敏感性能的影响则较小。

Hidrogenação de catalítica de acetileno sobre catalisadores de paládio e catalisadores bimetálicos de paládio e prata

Nesse estudo, prepararam-se catalisadores de paládio e catalisadores de paládio e prata que foram avaliados, juntamente com o catalisador comercial G58H para a reação de hidrogenação seletiva de acetileno. Foram preparados materiais com 0,03% e 0,1% de Pd depositados sobre α-Al2O3 e α-Al2O3 impregnada com 0,2% de Ag. A superfície dos catalisadores foi analisada por quimissorção de CO, TPR de H2 e medidas de área superficial pelo método BET. Os catalisadores de paládio e paládio/prata mostraram-se bastante ativos e seletivos para a reação de hidrogenação de acetileno. Os resultados dos ensaios de quimissorção de CO indicaram que os catalisadores monometálicos preparados a partir do precursor Pd(NO3)2 possuem maior dispersão e que esta diminui com o aumento do conteúdo metálico. A adição da prata diminui a dispersão do paládio nos catalisadores bimetálicos. As análises de redução a temperatura programada (TPR) indicaram que os catalisadores monometálicos de paládio preparados a partir do precursor Pd(NO3)2 apresentam um número maior de espécies redutíveis. No caso dos catalisadores bimetálicos, as análises de TPR permitiram a identificação de fases metálicas onde o paládio interage com a prata. prata. As medidas de área superficial sugeriram que a adição da fase metálica reduz a área superficial dos catalisadores. Os ensaios de atividade catalítica mostraram que os catalisadores mono e bimetálicos preparados a partir do precursor Pd(NO3)2 são mais ativos que os preparados a partir do complexo [Pd(acac)2]. A atividade aumenta com percentual de paládio, porém, as menores seletividades foram obtidas para os catalisadores com maior percentual de paládio. Os catalisadores bimetálicos de Pd/Ag mostraram-se menos ativos que os monometálicos de paládio, entretanto foram mais seletivos na formação de etileno.

Effect of cantilever length and framework alloy on the stress distribution of mandibular-cantilevered implant-supported prostheses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Strain Gauge Analysis of the Effect of Porcelain Firing Simulation on the Prosthetic Misfit of Implant-Supported Frameworks

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of porcelain firing on the misfit of implant-supported frameworks and analyzed the influence of preheat treatment on the dimensional alterations.Materials and Methods: Four external-hex cylindrical implants were placed in polyurethane block. Ten frameworks of screw-retained implant-supported prostheses were cast in Pd-Ag using 2 procedures: (1) control group (CG, n = 5): cast in segments and laser welded; and test group (TG, n = 5): cast in segments, preheated, and laser welded. All samples were subjected to firing to simulate porcelain veneering firing. Strain gauges were bonded around the implants, and microstrain values (mu epsilon = 10(-6)epsilon) were recorded after welding (M1), oxidation cycle (M2), and glaze firing (M3). Data were statistically analyzed (2-way analysis of variance, Bonferroni, alpha = 0.05).Results: The microstrain value in the CG at M3 (475.2 mu epsilon) was significantly different from the values observed at M1 (355.6 mu epsilon) and M2 (413.9 mu epsilon). The values at M2 and M3 in the CG were not statistically different. Microstrain values recorded at different moments (M1: 361.6 mu epsilon/M2: 335.3 mu epsilon/M3: 307.2 mu epsilon) did not show significant difference.Conclusions: The framework misfit deteriorates during firing cycles of porcelain veneering. Metal distortion after porcelain veneering could be controlled by preheat treatment. (Implant Dent 2012;21:225-229)

Estudo comparativo da influência de três diferentes métodos de fundição na resistência da interface metal-cerâmica, por meio do teste de cisalhamento

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inativação de bactérias em fase gasosa por fotocatálise heterogênea: efeito da adição de metais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia in OCD patients: Clinical profile and possible treatment implications

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

Caracterização de estruturas de óxido de estanho modificado como sensores de gases

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Removal of glyphosate herbicide from water using biopolymer membranes

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

Optimization of x-ray spectra in digital mammography through Monte Carlo simulations

In this work, a Monte Carlo code was used to investigate the performance of different x-ray spectra in digital mammography, through a figure of merit (FOM), defined as FOM = CNR2/(D) over bar (g), with CNR being the contrast-to-noise ratio in image and (D) over bar (g) being the average glandular dose. The FOM was studied for breasts with different thicknesses t (2 cm <= t <= 8 cm) and glandular contents (25%, 50% and 75% glandularity). The anode/filter combinations evaluated were those traditionally employed in mammography (Mo/Mo, Mo/Rh, Rh/Rh), and a W anode combined with Al or K-edge filters (Zr, Mo, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn), for tube potentials between 22 and 34 kVp. Results show that the W anode combined with K-edge filters provides higher values of FOM for all breast thicknesses investigated. Nevertheless, the most suitable filter and tube potential depend on the breast thickness, and for t >= 6 cm, they also depend on breast glandularity. Particularly for thick and dense breasts, a W anode combined with K-edge filters can greatly improve the digital technique, with the values of FOM up to 200% greater than that obtained with the anode/filter combinations and tube potentials traditionally employed in mammography. For breasts with t < 4 cm, a general good performance was obtained with the W anode combined with 60 mu m of the Mo filter at 24-25 kVp, while 60 mu m of the Pd filter provided a general good performance at 24-26 kVp for t = 4 cm, and at 28-30 and 29-31 kVp for t = 6 and 8 cm, respectively.

Does the casting mode influence microstructure, fracture and properties of different metal ceramic alloys?

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the tensile strength, elongation, microhardness, microstructure and fracture pattern of various metal ceramic alloys cast under different casting conditions. Two Ni-Cr alloys, Co-Cr and Pd-Ag were used. The casting conditions were as follows: electromagnetic induction under argon atmosphere, vacuum, using blowtorch without atmosphere control. For each condition, 16 specimens, each measuring 25 mm long and 2.5 mm in diameter, were obtained. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation (EL) tests were performed using a Kratos machine. Vickers Microhardness (VM), fracture mode and microstructure were analyzed by SEM. UTS, EL and VM data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA. For UTS, alloy composition had a direct influence on casting condition of alloys (Wiron 99 and Remanium CD), with higher values shown when cast with Flame/Air (p < 0.05). The factors "alloy" and "casting condition" influenced the EL and VM results, generally presenting opposite results, i.e., alloy with high elongation value had lower hardness (Wiron 99), and casting condition with the lowest EL values had the highest VM values (blowtorch). Both factors had significant influence on the properties evaluated, and prosthetic laboratories should select the appropriate casting method for each alloy composition to obtain the desired property.

Integrating efficient filtration and visible-light photocatalysis by loading Ag-doped zeolite Y particles on aluminia nanofiber membrane

Filtration membrane technology has already been employed to remove various organic effluents produced from the textile, paper, plastic, leather, food and mineral processing industries. To improve membrane efficiency and alleviate membrane fouling, an integrated approach is adopted that combines membrane filtration and photocatalysis technology. In this study, alumina nanofiber (AF) membranes with pore size of about 10 nm (determined by the liquid-liquid displacement method) have been synthesized through an in situ hydrothermal reaction, which permitted a large flux and achieved high selectivity. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are subsequently doped on the nanofibers of the membranes. Silver nanoparticles can strongly absorb visible light due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, and thus induce photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes, including anionic, cationic and neutral dyes, under visible light irradiation. In this integrated system, the dyes are retained on the membrane surface, their concentration in the vicinity of the Ag NPs are high and thus can be efficiently decomposed. Meanwhile, the usual flux deterioration caused by the accumulation of the filtered dyes in the passage pores can be avoided. For example, when an aqueous solution containing methylene blue is processed using an integrated membrane, a large flux of 200 L m-2 h-1 and a stable permeating selectivity of 85% were achieved. The combined photocatalysis and filtration function leads to superior performance of the integrated membranes, which have a potential to be used for the removal of organic pollutants in drinking water.

Cathodic corrosion of Cu substrates as a route to nanostructured Cu/M (M = Ag, Au, Pd) surfaces

The electrochemical formation of nanostructured materials is generally achieved by reduction of a metal salt onto a substrate that does not influence the composition of the deposit. In this work we report that Ag, Au and Pd electrodeposited onto Cu under conditions where galvanic replacement is not viable and hydrogen gas is evolved results in the formation of nanostructured surfaces that unexpectedly incorporate a high concentration of Cu in the final material. Under cathodic polarization conditions the electrodissolution/corrosion of Cu occurs which provides a source of ionic copper that is reduced at the surface-electrolyte interface. The nanostructured Cu/M (M = Ag, Au and Pd) surfaces are investigated for their catalytic activity for the reduction of 4 nitrophenol by NaBH4 where Cu/Ag was found to be extremely active. This work indicates that a substrate electrode can be utilized in an interesting manner t make bimetallic nanostructures with enhanced catalytic activity.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic investigations of Cu-Ni, Au-Ag, Ni-Pd, and Cu-Pd bimetallic clusters

Core-level binding energies of the component metals in bimetallic clusters of various compositions in the Ni-Cu, Au-Ag, Ni-Pd, and Cu-Pd systems have been measured as functions of coverage or cluster size, after having characterized the clusters with respect to sizes and compositions. The core-level binding energy shifts, relative to the bulk metals, at large coverages or cluster size, Delta E(a), are found to be identical to those of bulk alloys. By substracting the Delta E(a) values from the observed binding energy shifts, Delta E, we obtain the shifts, Delta E(c), due to cluster size. The Delta E(c) values in all the alloy systems increase with the decrease in cluster size. These results establish the additivity of the binding energy shifts due to alloying and cluster size effects in bimetallic clusters.