Laser irradiation and thermal treatment inducing selective crystallization in Sb2O3-Sb2S3 glassy films

The influence of both thermal treatment and laser irradiation on the structural and optical properties of films in the Sb 2 O 3 –Sb 2 S 3 system was investigated. The films were prepared by RF-sputtering using glass compositions as raw materials. Irreversible photodarkening effect was observed after exposure the films to a 458nm solid state laser. It is shown, for the first time, the use of holographic technique to measure “in situ”, simultaneously and independently, the phase and amplitude modulations in glassy films. The films were also photo-crystallized and analysed “in situ” using a laser coupled to a micro-Raman equipment. Results showed that Sb 2 S 3 crystalline phase was obtained after irradiation. The effect of thermal annealing on the structure of the films was carried out. Different from the result obtained by irradiation, thermal annealing induces the crystallization of the Sb 2 O 3 phase. Photo and thermal induced effects on films were studied using UV–Vis and Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermal analysis (DSC), X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (MEV) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).

Estudo da superfície do carbono vítreo reticulado após tratamento de implantação iônica por imersão em plasma (3IP) para a obtenção de eletrodos

In this work, RVC samples were treated by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) for electrodes production. High-voltage pulses with amplitudes of -3.0 kV or -10.0 kV were applied to the RVC samples while the treatment time was 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Nitrogen, atmospheric air and H2:N2 mixture were employed as plasma sources. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical measurements. The SEM images present an apparent enhancement of the surface roughness after the treatment probably due to the surface sputtering during the PIII process. This observation is in agreement with the specific electrochemical surface area (SESA) of RVC electrodes. An increase was observed of the SESA values for the PIII treated samples compared to the untreated specimen. Some oxygen and nitrogen containing groups were introduced on the RVC surface after the PIII treatment. Both plasma-induced process: the surface roughening and the introduction of the polar species on the RVC surface are beneficial for the RVC electrodes application

Desenvolvimento de catalisadores sem platina: estudos comparativos da oxidação de metanol em 'PD''RU'/'C' e 'PT''RU'/'C' em meio alcalino

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Análise metalográfica do titânio puro submetido à soldagem laser Nd: YAG e TIG

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Desenvolvimento de uma nova liga quaternária Ti25Ta25Nb3Sn para aplicações odontológicas

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Effect of ion irradiation on the structural properties and hardness of a-C:H:Si:O:F films

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

Influência de tratamentos termo-mecânicos na estrutura e microestrutura da liga Ti-10%pNi obtida por fusão a arco

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Electrical transport mechanisms and structure of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated nanocrystalline Ga1-xMnxAs films

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

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study on sintered Pb1-xLaxTiO3 ferroelectric ceramics

The Pb1-xLaxTiO3 sintered ferroelectric ceramics with x equal to 0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.30 were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The binding energy of the Ti 2p lines is consistent with only one chemical state, Ti4+. on the other hand, in the case of Pb 4f and 0 Is XPS spectra, apart from the main peaks attributed to the lattice ions, minor peaks related to the surface states were also observed. The presence of Pb-0 state on the surface of all samples was due to the reduction of lead ions caused by the preferential removal of the oxygen ions after sputtering. The non observation of Ti3+ ions confirms that the mechanism of charge compensation that should occurs owing to the substitution of Ph2+ by La3+ is due to the preferential formation of Pb site vacancies, and not to a reduction from Ti4+ to Ti3+ states. Within the limits of the present experiment, there is no evidence of the existence of non-equivalent Pb, Ti, and La sites as the Pb1-xLaxTiO3 ceramic changes from a normal to a relaxor ferroelectric state. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de dispositivos eletroluminescentes contendo uma blenda polimérica condutora e Zn2SiO4:Mn

Despite the great development of organic and polymeric electroluminescent materials, the large scale commercial application of devices made with these materials seems conditioned to specific cases, mainly due to the high cost and the low durability, in compared to conventional technologies. In this study was produced electroluminescent devices by a process simple, drop casting. Were produced electroluminescent films containing Zn2SiO4:Mn immersed in a conductive polymer blend with different thicknesses. The morphological characteristics of these films were studied by scanning electronic microscopy. These films were used in the manufacture of electroluminescent devices, in which the light emission properties of the developed material were evaluated. The blend was composed of the conductive polymer Poly(o-methoxyaniline), doped with p-toluene sulfonic acid, and an insulating polymer, Poly(vinylidene fluoride) and its copolymer Poly(vinylidene fluoride-cotrifluoroethylene). To this blend was added Zn2SiO4:Mn, thereby forming the composite. A first set of devices was obtained using composites with different weight fraction of polymeric and inorganic phases, which were deposited by drop casting over ITO substrates. Upper electrodes of aluminum were deposited by thermal evaporation. The resulting device architecture was a sandwich type structure ITO/ composite/ Al. A second set of devices was obtained as self-sustaining films using the best composite composition obtained for the device of the first set. ITO electrodes were deposited by RF-Sputtering, in both faces of these films. The AC electrical characterization of the devices was made with impedance spectroscopy measurements, and the DC electrical characterization was performed using a source/ meter unit Keithley 2410. The devices light emission was measured using a photodiode coupled to a digital electrometer, Keithley 6517A. The devices electrooptical characterization showed that the...

Propriedades ópticas e elétricas de materiais híbridos de sílica/orgânico à base de GPTS:TEOS preparados pelo método sol-gel

Fabrication of optoelectronic devices requires the employment of at least one transparent electrode. Usually, commercially transparent electrodes have been made by deposition of indium tin oxide (ITO) films by RF-Sputtering technique. These commercial electrodes have sheet resistance of about 100 Ω/sq and optical transmittance of 77% at the wavelength of 550 nm. The poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene-sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is an alternative material to fabricate transparent electrodes due to its high conductivity (about 600 S/cm) and solubility in water. Soluble conductive materials exhibits advantages for processing of electrode layers, however there is a disadvantage during devices fabrication once materials with the same solvent of the electrode material cannot be coated one over the other. Alternatively, organic/Silica hybrid materials prepared by sol-gel process allow producing bulks and films with high chemical durability. In order to obtain transparent electrodes with high chemical durability, we introduced a blended material comprising the high UV-VIS transparency of organic/Silica sol-gel material and a high conductivity polymer PEDOT:PSS. The organic/Silica sol was obtained using two different molar concentrations (1:1 and 4:1), of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS). Amounts of PEDOT:PSS solutions were added to the sol material, resulting in different weight fractions of sol and polymer. G:T/P:P were deposit onto glass substrates by spray-coating. In order to perform electrical characterization of the blended material, gold electrodes were thermally evaporated onto the films. The electrical characterization was performed using a Keithley 2410 source/meter unity and the optical characterization, using a Cary50 UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The absorption coefficient and electric conductivity of the different compositions blends, as function of the PEDOT:PSS concentration, were...

Jato de plasma frio em pressão atmosférica para tratamento de materiais e esterilização

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Eletro-oxidação de metanol e etanol sobre PtAu/C em meio alcalino

The development of electrocatalysts for the oxidation of methanol and ethanol is very important, because these alcohols may be used in the anode fuel cells which convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy with high efficiency, cleanly and with low noise. Thus, this study reports to the synthesis of nanocatalysts of PtAu supported on carbon by microemulsion method. The physical characterization of these catalysts is performed through the techniques of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic activity of the prepared materials was studied using conventional electrochemical techniques and also the technique of spectro-electrochemical in situ FTIR, which allows identification of intermediates and products of the reactions. From the x-ray diffraction, it was observed that the thermal treatment applied to catalysts favored incorporation of Au into the crystal lattice of Pt,that is, increased the formation of PtAu alloy. Micrographs indicated particle size about 3 nm to materials not heat treated and 9 nm to materials subjected to thermal treatment (heating at 150 ° C for 1h and 30 min in argon atmosphere). Current density oxidation of methanol on PtAu / C were superior to pure platinum. Spectroscopic results indicated the presence of formate in solution in 50:50 and the composition showed bands for CO2, indicating complete oxidation, in lower potential. During ethanol oxidation on the catalyst PtAu, the main product formed was acetate, product of incomplete oxidation. The good performance for methanol oxidation can be attributed to large amounts of oxygen species adsorbed on the catalyst surface, or an electronic effect.

Stunning method in broiler chickens meat processing

Quality is a variable concept, which involves many factors, depending on the consumer market. In meat production, the concern with environmental aspects, animal welfare and the health and safety of workers is increasing. This work studied the effect of controlled atmosphere stunning of broilers on meat features and biochemical parameters for stress. Cobb broilers were stunned by electrical stunning and by controlled atmosphere with 70% CO2 and 70% CO2 + 30% Argon. After stunning, serum levels of glucose, lactate and corticosterone were compared with those of broilers at rest, immediately before transportation and slaughter and after 12 h of feed withdrawal (control group). At slaughter, blood volume drained during bleeding was not different for the stunning methods tested, ranging from 3.3 to 3.4% birds weight. This finding was important to demonstrate that gas stunning was not responsible for the animals′ death. Final pH in breast (6.1 to 6.2) and thigh (6.3 to 6.5) also did not vary among the different stunning methods (P > 0.05). Lightness (L = 60.55) and redness (a = +8.94) values found for breasts from electrical stunning showed that they were darker and redder (P < 0.05), probably due to changes in blood pressure. Glucose and corticosterone levels were not different between gas stunned birds (302.45 to 315.7 mg/dl and 55.71 to 72.49 ng/ml respectively) and birds at rest (305.95 mg/dl and 50.65 ng/ml) (P > 0.05). These stress indicators were higher (337.65 mg/dl for glucose and 104.13 ng/ml for costicosterone) when electrical stunning was used (P < 0.05). Lactate concentrations were lower (5.4 mmol/l) for birds at rest (P < 0.05) but not different for all stunning methods tested (7.3 to 8.1 mmol/l; P > 0.05). These results show that serum glucose may be used as a stress indicator in birds, with the advantage of being a quick and cheap biochemical test. Gas stunning favored birds′ management during slaughter and so reduced workers′ effort and injury hazard and the amount of feces and dust in the room. To make this method available for a large scale process, adjustments in equipments will be necessary to avoid delays in the processing line.

Low-temperature plasma: an effective approach against Candida albicans biofilm

This study evaluated the antifungal potential of low-temperature plasma (LTP) on a 72-hour Candida albicans biofilm. A growth inhibition zone test was conducted with agar plates inoculated with C. albicans and submitted to LTP and argon application at 3 and 10 mm for 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds. The groups for biofilm assays were 60 seconds of LTP application with a tip-to-sample distance of 3 mm (LTP-3) and 10 mm (LTP-10); –application of only argon gas for 60 seconds with a tip-to-sample distance of 3 mm (Ar-3) and 10 mm (Ar-10); and no treatment. The C. albicans biofilm was grown on saliva-coated discs. The medium was replaced every 24 hours. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed the proportion of live and dead cells, and variable pressure scanning electron microscopy (VPSEM) showed biofilm/cell structure. No inhibition zone was observed for control and either Ar groups. For the LTP groups, a progressively increasing of inhibition zone diameter was observed for different treatment durations. The LTP-3 and LTP-10 groups presented higher proportions of dead cells compared with the Ar-3 and Ar-10 groups. VPSEM revealed cell perforations in the LTP-3 and LTP-10 groups. A short period of LTP exposure demonstrated an antifungal effect on C. albicans biofilm.