Remote sensing analysis of depositional landforms in alluvial settings: Method development and application to the Taquari megafan, Pantanal (Brazil)

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

A combined method for evaluating radon and progeny in waters and its use at Guarani aquifer, São Paulo State, Brazil

A combined method for evaluating radon (Rn-222) and progeny (Pb-214 and Bi-214) in water was developed by using inexpensive alpha scintillation Counting and gamma ray spectrometry through NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors. A groundwater sample collected at the Pocos de Caldas alkaline massif in Brazil was submitted to the technique in order to assure its applicability by comparing the volumetric activities by different methods. Similar volumetric activity was determined for Pb-214 and Bi-214 in the sample analyzed that is compatible with the expected condition of radioactive equilibrium between these nuclides. The combined method was successfully used to analyze groundwater samples from Guarani aquifer in S (a) over tildeo Paulo State, Brazil, and the results of the measurements indicated that Pb-214 and Bi-214 provide useful information concerning the evaluation of the drinking water quality in terms of radiological aspects. This is because they are directly identified in the water samples, without the need of requiring the assumption of the establishment of the transient equilibrium condition with its parent Rn-222. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Growth rates in modern speleothems from Santana Cave, Brazil, by the Pb-210-method

The Santana Cave is located at the Upper Ribeira Touristic State Park (PETAR-Parque Estadual Turistico do Alto Ribeira) in southern São Paulo State, Brazil. This paper describes Pb-210 activity concentration data in soda straw stalactites samples collected at Salao das Flores in Santana Cave that is a fossil tributary of the cave river. Non-expensive alpha counting following some analytical steps for extracting and depositing Pb-210 were used for providing the Pb-210 data. In the analyzed samples, Pb-210 values of increasingly older samples fitted an exponential curve, thus suggesting that the production of Pb-210 has been constant with time. Also, the near-ideal fit indicated that the growth was uniform and there was no break in the continuous growth. The soda straw growth rates were determined from the best fit to the exponential curve through the Pb-210 activity concentration. The results of the measurements allowed estimate a longitudinal rate corresponding to 1.3 mm/yr and a lateral rate of 0.01 mm/yr, which permitted calculate times of 70 years and 317-498 years for their formation, respectively. The lateral growth rate is compatible with values from studies of chemical weathering rates held under laboratory and natural conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanosized lead lanthanum titanate (PLT) ceramic powders synthesized by the oxidant peroxo method

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

Structural and magnetic characterization of MnxZn1-xFe2O4 (x=0.2; 0.35; 0.65; 0.8; 1.0) ferrites obtained by the citrate precursor method

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Photoluminescence properties of PZT 52/48 synthesized by microwave hydrothermal method using PVA with template

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

Synthesis and characterization of lead zirconate titanate powders obtained by the oxidant peroxo method

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

Synthesis of KNbO3 nanostructures by a microwave assisted hydrothermal method

One-dimensional nanostructures of KNbO3 have attracted a great interest in the scientific community, mainly because of their promising application as nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). However, the synthesis of KNbO3 structures becomes complex due to the natural tendency to form non-stoichiometric potassium niobates. In this context, we report on the crystallization of one-dimensional KNbO3 nanostructures through the reaction between Nb2O5 and KOH under microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis (M-H). The use of this synthesis method made possible a very fast synthesis of singlecrystalline powders. Based on SEM, TEM and XRD characterizations, the influence of the synthesis time and the reactants concentration in the structure and morphology of the resultant KNbO3 was established. The conditions that favor the crystallization of nanofingers were determined to be small amounts of Nb2O5 and short reaction times. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preparation of hierarchically structured porous aluminas by a dual soft template method

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dielectric and ferroelectric characteristics of barium zirconate titanate ceramics prepared from mixed oxide method

Barium zirconium titanate (BZT) ceramics were prepared by mixed oxide method. X-ray diffraction showed the presence of a single phase while Raman scattering confirmed structural transitions as a function of different Zr/Ti ratio. The addition of Zr strongly influenced the crystal structure and electrical properties of the ceramics. A typical hysteresis loops were observed for all investigated compositions. BZT ceramics with 15 mol% Zr have shown a ferroelectric to paraelectric transition at around 77 degrees C. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Photoluminescence properties and synthesis of a PZT mesostructure obtained by the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

Micro-cube-shaped lead zirconate titanate was synthesized using the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Photoluminescence and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used for monitoring the formation of mesocrystals. Based on these results, a growth mechanism was then proposed which involved nanoparticle aggregation, nanoplate self-assembly on specific architecture and the final formation of mesoscopic micro-cube-shaped lead zirconate titanate. (C) 2011 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

SrZrO3 powders obtained by chemical method: Synthesis, characterization and optical absorption behaviour

Strontium zirconate (SrZrO3) powders have been synthesized by the polymeric precursor method after heat treatment at different temperatures for 2 h in oxygen atmosphere. The decomposition of precursor powder was followed by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform Raman (FT-Raman). The UV-vis absorption spectroscopy measurements suggested the presence of intermediary energy levels in the band gap of structurally disordered powders. XRD, Rietveld refinement and FT-Raman revealed that the powders are free of secondary phases and crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure. (C) 2007 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of Ba0.5Sr0.5(Ti0.80Sn0.20)O-3 prepared by the soft chemical method

Single-phase Ba0.5Sr0.5(Ti0.80Sn0.20)O-3 (BST:Sn) powders with perovskite structure were prepared by the soft chemical method. Infrared data indicates that the BST:Sn powder is carbonate free while Raman analysis has shown that the transversal (TO) and longitudinal (LO) optical modes tend to disappear with tin addition. The electron diffraction pattern of the BST:Sn powder showed an interplanar distance of 3.94 angstrom characteristic of the pseudo-cubic structure. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Potassium niobate thin films prepared through polymeric precursor method

Thin films of potassium niobate were deposited on (100) Si substrates by the polymeric precursor method (Pechini method). Annealing in static air was performed at 600degrees C for 20 h. The obtained films were characterized by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Electrical characterization of the films pointed to ferroelectricity via hysteresis loop. The dielectric constant, dissipation factor and resistance were measured in frequency region from 10 Hz to 10 MHz. At 1 MHz, the dielectric constant was 158 and the dissipation factor was 0.11. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural characterization of phase transition of Al2O3 nanopowders obtained by polymeric precursor method

Nanocrystalline Al(2)O(3)powders have been synthesized by the polymeric precursor method. A study of the evolution of crystalline phases of obtained powders was accomplished through X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy and refinement of the structures through the Rietveld method. The results obtained allow the identification of three steps on the gamma-Al2O3 to alpha-Al2O3 phase transition. The single-phase alpha-Al2O3 Powder was obtained after heat-treatment at 1050 degrees C for 2 h. A study of the morphology of the particles was accomplished through measures of crystallite size, specific surface area and transmission electronic microscopy. The particle size is closely related to gamma-Al2O3 to alpha-Al2O3 phase transition. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.