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At least 1,009 records · Page 56

Solar concentrator with integrated tracking and light delivery system with collimation

A solar light distribution system includes a solar light concentrator that is affixed externally to a light transfer tube. Solar light waves are processed by the concentrator into a collimated beam of light, which is then transferred through a light receiving port and into the light transfer tube. A reflector directs the collimated beam of light through the tube to a light distribution port. The interior surface of the light transfer tube is highly reflective so that the light transfers through the tube with minimal losses. An interchangeable luminaire is attached to the light distribution port and distributes light inside of a structure. A sun tracking device rotates the concentrator and the light transfer tube to optimize the receiving of solar light by the concentrator throughout the day. The system provides interior lighting, uses only renewable energy sources, and releases no carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Droplet Number Concentration Value Added Product

Cloud droplet number concentration is an important factor in understanding aerosol-cloud interactions. As aerosol concentration increases, it is expected that droplet number concentration (Nd) will increase and droplet size will decrease, for a given liquid water path. This will greatly affect cloud albedo as smaller droplets reflect more shortwave radiation; however, the magnitude and variability of these processes under different environmental conditions is still uncertain.McComiskey et al. (2009) have implemented a method, based onBoers and Mitchell (1994), for calculating Nd from ground-based remote sensing measurements of optical depth and liquid water path. They show that the magnitude of the aerosol-cloud interactions (ACI) varies with a range of factors, including the relative value of the cloud liquid water path (LWP), the aerosol size distribution, and the cloud updraft velocity. Estimates of Nd under a range of cloud types and conditions and at a variety of sites are needed to further quantify the impacts of aerosol cloud interactions. In order to provide data sets for studying aerosol-cloud interactions, the McComiskey et al. (2009) method was implemented as the Droplet Number Concentration (NDROP) value-added product (VAP).

Chitra Sivaraman, PNNL↗

Luminescent solar concentrators and related methods of manufacturing

Luminescent solar concentrators in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can be designed to minimize photon thermalization losses and incomplete light trapping using various components and techniques. Cadmium selenide core, cadmium sulfide shell (CdSe/CdS) quantum dot (“QD”) technology can be implemented in such devices to allow for near-unity QDs and sufficiently large Stokes shifts. Many embodiments of the invention include a luminescent solar concentrator that incorporates CdSe/CdS quantum dot luminophores. In further embodiments, anisotropic luminophore emission can be implemented through metasurface/plasmonic antenna coupling. In several embodiments, red-shifted luminophores are implemented. Additionally, top and bottom spectrally-selective filters, such as but not limited to selectively-reflective metasurface mirrors and polymeric stack filters, can be implemented to enhance the photon collection efficiency. In some embodiments, luminescent solar concentrator component is optically connected in tandem with a planar Si subcell, forming a micro-optical tandem luminescent solar concentrator.

Needell, David R.↗

Complex concentrated alloys: materials, methods, and techniques for manufacture

Complex concentrated alloys include five or more elements, at least one of which is ruthenium. Example complex concentrated alloys can include nickel and chromium, iron, ruthenium, molybdenum, and/or tungsten. Example complex concentrated alloys have single phase microstructure of face centered cubic (FCC) and can be homogenous. Example complex concentrated alloys can exhibit improved corrosion resistance.

Lu, Pin↗

Pilot Plant Test of Removal of Co-60 and Cs-137 from the Evaporator Concentrates of Forsmark unit 3 - 17158

A pilot plant test has been conducted to treat evaporator concentrates at Forsmark BWR NPP unit 3 in Sweden using Fortum's selective ion exchanger technology. The concentrate contains an array of radionuclides of which C-60 and Cs-137 are radiologically the most important ones. Concentrate also contained a high salt content ∼ 20 g/l and high organic carbon loading ∼ 1 g/l The pilot system consisted of pre-treatment (mechanical filters, activated carbon, UV oxidation) and Cs and Co selective ion exchangers. CsTreat ion exchanger was very effective in removing Cs from the evaporator concentrate: {sup 137}Cs activity was lowered from the initial value 280 MBq/m{sup 3} to below detection limit 550 Bq/m{sup 3}. Removing Co was more complicated: results suggest that Co is bound to organic chelating compounds, thus fairly compete oxidation of organic carbon was required in order to achieve good ion exchange results. Finally, after total organic carbon (TOC) was treated to below 50 ppm, {sup 60}Co activity was lowered from the initial value of 57 MBq/m{sup 3} to 2.7 kBq/m{sup 3}. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

RO concentrated water treatment equipment for risk reduction of contaminated water stored in tank in Fukushima NPS - 16655

At the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS) site, concentrated waste water was stored in tanks, awaiting treatment to remove radionuclides using various multi-nuclide removal systems. To accelerate the treatment for risk reductions of radiation dose and tank leakage, we constructed reverse-osmosis (RO) concentrated water treatment equipment. The equipment consists of filters and five adsorbent vessels containing Cs-Sr simultaneous adsorbents with the removal ability of Sr being 1/1000(max) to 1/100(min), and the overall treatment capacity of 500 to 900 m{sup 3}/day. We developed a simulation code to calculate the Sr concentration of outlet water for each vessel in order to evaluate the bed life of the media. The simulation code makes it possible to plan when to change media in the vessels during the equipment operation. The successful treatment of concentrated waste water was conducted using the equipment from January to May 2015. Total amount of water treated was 82,194 m{sup 3}. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Storage and concentration of plutonium and uranium solutions in LES 401 hot cell (ATALANTE) - criticality safety considerations - 14414

ATALANTE, located in Marcoule, is one of the main nuclear facilities of the French CEA (Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission). The LES 401 hot cell was built in the 1980's and, since then, has been operating only with low masses of fissile material. As part of the management optimization for purified Uranium and Plutonium solutions ('Fin U Pu' Project), the new functions provided in LES 401 are now expected to be the following: - Reception of Uranium and Plutonium solutions, - Concentration of these solutions, - Storage of the concentrates and distillates. From the criticality safety point of view, the equipment was originally designed in safe geometry for Plutonium Nitrate, considering only a 2.5 cm -thick water reflector. However, the new criticality safety case had to take into account the following points: - Reception of not only Plutonium solutions, but also highly enriched Uranium solutions, - Considering flood risk as a possible contingency, - Considering precipitation as a possible contingency. These more conservative assumptions have meant introducing a mass limit for the cell, in addition to the geometry control mode. For the equipment containing very low concentrations of fissile material in normal operation, it was necessary, using the double contingency principle, to take a concentration limit into account in the specific situation of water flooding the cell. Finally, given the mass and geometry control mode, it was necessary to perform all the calculations with both fissile media (Plutonium and Uranium), as it was found that depending on the selected mass, geometry, and reflection conditions, the most penalizing media is not always the same. (authors)

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Analysis of the Surface Morphology and Chemical Composition of Zr-Nb3Sn Alloys with Different Zr Concentrations

In the field of superconducting science, Nb has been the material of choice for Radio Frequency (RF) Cavities for years. However, in recent years Nb3Sn has shown to be a promising alternative to Nb. Its combination of a significantly high superconducting transition temperature and a much higher value of upper critical magnetic field (Hc2), has been the reason the alloy has been so widely studied. This project aims to develop materials to further improve the high magnetic field performance of Nb3Sn by improving its upper critical magnetic field and critical current density (Jc). One way to improve the Jc and the Hc2 is to create more grain boundaries in the Nb3Sn alloy allowing them to trap more magnetic flux lines in the materials. To do this the grains must be made smaller which will naturally cause the formation of more grain boundaries. A common way to create smaller grains is by doping an impurity in the alloy. In this study, Nb3Sn was doped with Zr to form Zr-Nb3Sn alloys. This project investigates the surface properties and chemical composition of Zr-Nb3Sn alloys with varying zirconium concentrations (~0.5% and ~24% Zr). Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS), allowed for the characterization of the differences in surface morphology and elemental composition between samples. SEM images were quantified using ImageJ giving insight into grain distribution. The results indicate that increased Zr concentration creates smaller grains in the Zr-Nb3Sn alloy. Furthermore, the ~ 24% Zr grew nanoscale particles on the surface that are possible oxides. XPS data revealed that as Zr concentration increased, the total Nb oxides (NbOx) thickness decreased. Conversely, as Zr concentration increased, the surface Sn oxides (SnOx) also increased slightly. Quantification via ImageJ of SEM data showed that the ~ 0.5% Zr sample had a grain size of ~ 5300 nm2. These results show that Zr inclusion leads to smaller grain formations, which is promising in the world of superconducting RF cavities for high magnetic field applications.

Sue, Micah↗

Hyperentanglement concentration of nonlocal two-photon six-qubit systems with linear optics

Hyperentanglement, the entangled states in the multiple degrees of freedom (DOFs) of a photon system simultaneously, has attracted much attention recently as it can increase the capacity of quantum communication largely. Here we present the first scheme for concentrating the nonlocal two-photon six-qubit systems entangled in polarization, spatial-mode, and time-bin DOFs with linear optics. We construct the parity-check gates for the quantum states of nonlocal photon systems in all the three DOFs with linear-optical elements. Fortunately, our parity-check gate for one DOF does not affect the quantum states in the other two DOFs, which makes our hyperentanglement concentration protocol (hyper-ECP) can be implemented conveniently for polarization–spatial–time-bin partially hyperentangled states. This hyper-ECP is practical as it requires only linear-optical elements, and it can be directly generalized to improve the entanglement of nonlocal multi-photon systems entangled in three DOFs in the long-distance high-capacity quantum communication. - Highlights: • A linear hyperentanglement concentration protocol is proposed for photon systems. • Parity-check gates on one degree of freedom (DOF) will not affect the other two DOFs. • Polarization, spatial-mode, and time-bin DOFs are manipulated with linear optics. • Nonlocal maximally hyperentangled two-photon six-qubit systems are obtained. • Entanglement of multiphoton systems in three DOFs can be improved with this method.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

An in-cell NMR study of monitoring stress-induced increase of cytosolic Ca{sup 2+} concentration in HeLa cells

Highlights: •We performed time-resolved NMR observations of calbindin D{sub 9k} in HeLa cells. •Stress-induced increase of cytosolic Ca{sup 2+} concentration was observed by in-cell NMR. •Calbindin D{sub 9k} showed the state-transition from Mg{sup 2+}- to Ca{sup 2+}-bound state in cells. •We provide a useful tool for in situ monitoring of the healthiness of the cells. -- Abstract: Recent developments in in-cell NMR techniques have allowed us to study proteins in detail inside living eukaryotic cells. The lifetime of in-cell NMR samples is however much shorter than that in culture media, presumably because of various stresses as well as the nutrient depletion in the anaerobic environment within the NMR tube. It is well known that Ca{sup 2+}-bursts occur in HeLa cells under various stresses, hence the cytosolic Ca{sup 2+} concentration can be regarded as a good indicator of the healthiness of cells in NMR tubes. In this study, aiming at monitoring the states of proteins resulting from the change of cytosolic Ca{sup 2+} concentration during experiments, human calbindin D{sub 9k} (P47M + C80) was used as the model protein and cultured HeLa cells as host cells. Time-resolved measurements of 2D {sup 1}H–{sup 15}N SOFAST–HMQC experiments of calbindin D{sub 9k} (P47M + C80) in HeLa cells showed time-dependent changes in the cross-peak patterns in the spectra. Comparison with in vitro assignments revealed that calbindin D{sub 9k} (P47M + C80) is initially in the Mg{sup 2+}-bound state, and then gradually converted to the Ca{sup 2+}-bound state. This conversion process initiates after NMR sample preparation. These results showed, for the first time, that cells inside the NMR tube were stressed, presumably because of cell precipitation, the lack of oxygen and nutrients, etc., thereby releasing Ca{sup 2+} into cytosol during the measurements. The results demonstrated that in-cell NMR can monitor the state transitions of stimulated cells through the observation of proteins involved in the intracellular signalling systems. Our method provides a very useful tool for in situ monitoring of the “healthiness” of the cells in various in-cell NMR studies.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Including the temporal change in PM{sub 2.5} concentration in the assessment of human health impact: Illustration with renewable energy scenarios to 2050

This article proposes a new method to assess the health impact of populations exposed to fine particles (PM{sub 2.5}) during their whole lifetime, which is suitable for comparative analysis of energy scenarios. The method takes into account the variation of particle concentrations over time as well as the evolution of population cohorts. Its capabilities are demonstrated for two pathways of European energy system development up to 2050: the Baseline (BL) and the Low Carbon, Maximum Renewable Power (LC-MRP). These pathways were combined with three sets of assumptions about emission control measures: Current Legislation (CLE), Fixed Emission Factors (FEFs), and the Maximum Technically Feasible Reductions (MTFRs). Analysis was carried out for 45 European countries. Average PM{sub 2.5} concentration over Europe in the LC-MRP/CLE scenario is reduced by 58% compared with the BL/FEF case. Health impacts (expressed in days of loss of life expectancy) decrease by 21%. For the LC-MRP/MTFR scenario the average PM{sub 2.5} concentration is reduced by 85% and the health impact by 34%. The methodology was developed within the framework of the EU's FP7 EnerGEO project and was implemented in the Platform of Integrated Assessment (PIA). The Platform enables performing health impact assessments for various energy scenarios. - Highlights: • A new method to assess health impact of PM{sub 2.5} for energy scenarios is proposed. • An algorithm to compute Loss of Life Expectancy attributable to exposure to PM{sub 2.5} is depicted. • Its capabilities are demonstrated for two pathways of European energy system development up to 2050. • Integrating the temporal evolution of PM{sub 2.5} is of great interest for assessing the potential impacts of energy scenarios.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Comparing measurement of limiting current in block copolymer electrolytes as a function of salt concentration with theoretical predictions

Optimizing electrolyte performance is crucial for the widespread adoption of electrochemical energy storage. We demonstrate that limiting current provides a robust criterion for determining the optimum electrolyte. Experiments were conducted on rigid block copolymer electrolytes comprising mixtures of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer (SEO) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide salt (LiTFSI) over a salt concentration range from r av = 0.04 to r av = 0.20 (r av is the molar ratio of lithium ions to ethylene oxide). Here we show that the maximum limiting current density is 4.3 mA cm –2 at r av = 0.12. The dependence of limiting current on salt concentration is in good agreement with predictions from Newman's concentrated solution theory with no adjustable parameters.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Gestational urinary bisphenol A and maternal and newborn thyroid hormone concentrations: The HOME Study

Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor used in consumer products, may perturb thyroid function. Prenatal BPA exposure may have sex-specific effects on thyroid hormones (THs). Our objectives were to investigate whether maternal urinary BPA concentrations during pregnancy were associated with THs in maternal or cord serum, and whether these associations differed by newborn sex or maternal iodine status. We measured urinary BPA concentrations at 16 and 26 weeks gestation among pregnant women in the HOME Study (2003–2006, Cincinnati, Ohio). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free and total thyroxine (T{sub 4}) and triiodothyronine (T{sub 3}) were measured in maternal serum at 16 weeks (n=181) and cord serum at delivery (n=249). Associations between BPA concentrations and maternal or cord serum TH levels were estimated by multivariable linear regression. Mean maternal urinary BPA was not associated with cord THs in all newborns, but a 10-fold increase in mean BPA was associated with lower cord TSH in girls (percent change=−36.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): −58.4, −1.7%), but not boys (7.8%; 95% CI: −28.5, 62.7%; p-for-effect modification=0.09). We observed no significant associations between 16-week BPA and THs in maternal or cord serum, but 26-week maternal BPA was inversely associated with TSH in girls (−42.9%; 95% CI: −59.9, −18.5%), but not boys (7.6%; 95% CI: −17.3, 40.2%; p-for-effect modification=0.005) at birth. The inverse BPA–TSH relation among girls was stronger, but less precise, among iodine deficient versus sufficient mothers. Prenatal BPA exposure may reduce TSH among newborn girls, particularly when exposure occurs later in gestation. - Highlights: • Examined associations of BPA with thyroid hormones in pregnant women and newborns. • Assessed effect modification of BPA–thyroid hormone associations by newborn sex. • Greater BPA related to decreased thyroid stimulating hormone in girls' cord serum. • Results may suggest window of susceptibility to BPA in later gestation. • BPA potentially has greatest adverse effect on girls with iodine deficient mothers.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Organophosphorus esters (OPEs) in PM2.5 in urban and e-waste recycling regions in southern China: concentrations, sources, and emissions

Highlights: • OPE concentrations and compositions displayed great variations among the sources. • High OPE levels were related to the electronic, plastic, and chemical industries. • Correlations between OPEs suggests different emission mechanisms from the sources. • The total air emission of OPEs from the 20 urban industrial sources was 1460 kg/yr. • The total air emission of OPEs from the e-waste recycling facilities was 133 kg/yr. Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are novel ubiquitous contaminants that are attracting growing concern, but their emissions into the environment are still poorly understood. In this study, 12 OPEs were measured in fine particulate matter (PM{sub 2.5}) at 20 industrial sites in an urban region and four e-waste recycling facilities in a rural region in southern China. There was no significant difference in the concentrations of ∑OPEs between the urban region (519–62,747 pg/m{sup 3}, median = 2854 pg/m{sup 3}) and the rural e-waste region (775–13,823 pg/m{sup 3}, 3321 pg/m{sup 3}). High OPE concentrations in urban PM{sub 2.5} were generally associated with the electrical, electronic, plastic, and chemical industries. There were no significant correlations between most OPEs in these two regions, suggesting different emission mechanisms. The average emissions of ∑OPEs estimated using a simplified dispersion model were 73.0 kg/yr from the urban industrial point sources and 33.2 kg/yr from the e-waste recycling facilities. The estimated emission inventory from industrial activities in the whole city (3228–4452 kg/yr) was approximately 30-fold higher than that from the e-waste recycling (133 kg/yr) facilities because urban region has a much larger industrial scale. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first effort to model the emissions of OPEs from industrial and e-waste recycling activities to the atmosphere.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Effect of indium concentration on electrochemical properties of electrode-electrolyte interface of CuIn{sub 1-x}Ga{sub x}Se{sub 2} prepared by electrodeposition

Highlights: • CIGS thin film was electrodeposited on a molybdenum (Mo) electrode from a non-pH buffered chloride-based electrolyte. • The electrodeposited time and the concentration of In{sup 3+} control the growth of CIGS thin film prepared in this electrodeposition system. • The kinetic of electrodeposition system was gradually dominated by the diffusion process with the electrodeposition time. - Abstract: In this study, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique was used to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the interface between the Mo electrode and the Cu-In-Ga-Se electrolyte. In this electrodeposition system, the main parameters include (1) various deposition times, and (2) the effect of In{sup 3+} concentration on the diffusion processes, electrical double layer, charge transfer resistance, and Warburg impedance. Experimental results revealed that the electrochemical kinetic behavior of CIGS thin film is strongly influenced by (1) the electrical double layer existing between the substrate, and (2) the electrolyte with different concentrations of In{sup 3+}. With an increase in the electrodeposition time, the kinetic behavior of this electrodeposition system was gradually dominated by the diffusion process rather than charge transfer process.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Time- and concentration-dependent genomic responses of the rat airway to inhaled nickel subsulfide

Objective: To provide insights into the mode of action for Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} lung carcinogenicity by examining gene expression changes in target cells after inhalation exposure. Methods: Gene expression changes were determined in micro-dissected lung broncho-alveolar cells from Fischer 344 rats following inhalation of Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} at 0.0, 0.04, 0.08, 0.15, and 0.60 mg/m{sup 3} (0.03, 0.06, 0.11, and 0.44 mg Ni/m{sup 3}) for one and four weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week). Results: Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid evaluation and lung histopathology provided evidence of inflammation only at the two highest concentrations, which were similar to those tested in the 2-year bioassay. The number of statistically significant up- and down-regulated genes decreased markedly from one to four weeks of exposure, suggesting adaptation. Cell signal pathway enrichment at both time-points primarily reflected responses to toxicity, including inflammatory and proliferative signaling. While proliferative signaling was up-regulated at both time points, some inflammatory signaling reversed from down-regulation at 1 week to up-regulation at 4 weeks. Conclusions: These results support a mode of action for Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} carcinogenicity driven by chronic toxicity, inflammation and proliferation, leading to mis-replication, rather than by direct genotoxicity. Benchmark dose (BMD) analysis identified the lowest pathway transcriptional BMD exposure concentration as 0.026 mg Ni/m{sup 3}, for apoptosis/survival signaling. When conducted on the basis of lung Ni concentration the lowest pathway BMD was 0.64 μg Ni/g lung, for immune/inflammatory signaling. Implications: These highly conservative BMDs could be used to derive a point of departure in a nonlinear risk assessment for Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} toxicity and carcinogenicity. - Highlights: • The mode of action for lung carcinogenicity of inhaled Ni{sub 3}S{sub 2} was investigated in rats. • Gene expression changes were determined in micro-dissected lung tissue at 1–4 weeks. • A non-genotoxic mode of action (toxicity, inflammation, proliferation) was supported. • Analyses of lung lavage fluid and histopathology provided complementary results. • Transcriptional benchmark doses could inform point of departure for risk assessment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Distinct Source Water Chemistry Shapes Contrasting Concentration-Discharge Patterns

Understanding concentration-discharge (C–Q) relationships are essential for predicting chemical weathering and biogeochemical cycling under changing climate and anthropogenic conditions. Contrasting C–Q relationships have been observed widely, yet a mechanistic framework that can interpret diverse patterns remains elusive. This work hypothesizes that seemingly disparate C–Q patterns are driven by switching dominance of end-member source waters and their chemical contrasts arising from subsurface biogeochemical heterogeneity. We use data from Coal Creek, a high-elevation mountainous catchment in Colorado, and a recently developed watershed reactive transport model (BioRT-Flux-PIHM). Sensitivity analysis and Monte-Carlo simulations (500 cases) show that reaction kinetics and thermodynamics and distribution of source materials across depths govern the chemistry gradients of shallow soil water and deeper groundwater entering the stream. The alternating dominance of organic-poor yet geo-solute-rich groundwater under dry conditions and organic-rich yet geo-solute-poor soil water during spring melt leads to the flushing pattern of dissolved organic carbon and the dilution pattern of geogenic solutes (e.g., Na, Ca, and Mg). In addition, the extent of concentration contrasts regulates the power law slopes ( b ) of C–Q patterns via a general equation $b = \frac{δ_b C_{ratio}}{C_{ratio,1/2} + C_{ratio}} +b_{min} $ (Formula presented.). At low ratios of soil water versus groundwater concentrations ($C_{ratio} = C_{sw}/C_{gw}$ < 0.6), dilution occurs; at high ratios ($C_{ratio}$ > 1.8), flushing arises; chemostasis occurs in between. This equation quantitatively interprets b values of 11 solutes (dissolved organic carbon, dissolved P, NO 3 - , K, Si, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, Mn, and Fe) from three catchments (Coal Creek, Shale Hills, and Plynlimon) of differing climate, geologic, and land cover conditions. Finally, this indicates potentially broad regulation of subsurface biogeochemical heterogeneity in determining C–Q patterns and wide applications of this equation in quantifying b values, which can have broad implications for predicting chemical weathering and biogeochemical transformation at the watershed scale.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Enhanced separation efficiency of photoinduced charges for antimony-doped tin oxide (Sb-SnO{sub 2})/TiO{sub 2} heterojunction semiconductors with varied Sb doping concentration

In this paper, antimony-doped tin oxide (Sb-SnO{sub 2}) nanoparticles were synthesized with varied Sb doping concentration, and the Sb-SnO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} heterojunction semiconductors were prepared with Sb-SnO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2}. The separation efficiency of photoinduced charges was characterized with surface photovoltage (SPV) technique. Compared with Sb-SnO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2}, Sb-SnO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} presents an enhanced separation efficiency of photoinduced charges, and the SPV enhancements were estimated to be 1.40, 1.43, and 1.99 for Sb-SnO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} composed of Sb-SnO{sub 2} with the Sb doping concentration of 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively. To understand the enhancement, the band structure of Sb-SnO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2} in the heterojunction semiconductor was determined, and the conduction band offsets (CBO) between Sb-SnO{sub 2} and TiO{sub 2} were estimated to be 0.56, 0.64, and 0.98 eV for Sb-SnO{sub 2}/TiO{sub 2} composed of Sb-SnO{sub 2} with the Sb doping concentration of 5%, 10%, and 15%, respectively. These results indicate that the separation efficiency enhancement is resulting from the energy level matching, and the increase of enhancement is due to the rising of CBO.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗