samarium phosphides: Topics by WorldWideScience.org

Pulsed Plasma Preparation for LWIR Materials

Autoionizing and Auger transitions in atomic manganese and samarium have been experimentally investigated by observation of the ejected electrons in the energy region 0 to 40 eV following electron impact excitation with incident beams in the energy range 15-500 eV. Seventy-four spectral features are tabulated for manganese and a number of new assignments have been made based on pseudo-relativistic Hartree-Fock calculations and quantum defect analysis. A similar study of samarium reveals only a number of broad features in the ejected-electron energy range 8-10 eV. Three features have been observed consistently in the ejected-electron spectrum of samarium and assigned by comparison with previous work. (author).

Esophageal Complications Following Aluminium Phosphide Ingestion: An Emerging Issue Among Survivors of Poisoning

... at compositions below -AlP 4 the films were still unstable, hydrolysing in room air, and the long term stability of higher aluminium phosphides is in ...

1990-06-18

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Aluminium phosphide ingestion is the most common agricultural poisoning in suburban and rural India and with a high mortality rate. Among survivors of acute poisoning there are recent sporadic reports of esophageal complications such as esophageal strictures and tracheo-esophageal fistula. The present study was carried out to determine the incidence, natural history, and treatment outcome of local esophageal complications in survivors of aluminium phosphide poisoning with complaints of dysphagia. All confirmed cases of poisoning with aluminium phosphide ingestion were admitted in Hamidia Hospital, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, from October 2007 to October 2008. Survivors with complaints of dysphagia underwent a barium study and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to d...

2010-01-01

In-depth industrial-hygiene survey report of the Bunge Corporation, Kansas City, Kansas

Stabilisation of #alpha#-Sialons using multiple additives

Potential exposure of workers to phosphide was examined during an in-depth industrial hygiene survey at the Bunge Corporation, in Kansas City, Kansas, where the gas was used as a grain fumigant. During the study, 14 men were employed at the facility. Tablets of aluminum phosphide were added to the grain mass for fumigation. General dilution ventilation resulted from outside air entering the work areas through ventilation louvers; there was also a local-exhaust ventilation system. Air samples revealed that, when the fumigant dispensers were being filled, workers in the area had significant exposure. At the time of the survey the relative humidity in the facility was high, permitting the reaction to phosphide to occur more readily. The levels of phosphide and respirable dust were reasonably low in the elevators, suggesting that the ventilation system was adequate. The author recommends that workers ...

1986-09-01

Band structure and electron-electron interaction in samarium monosulphide

Multi-cation #alpha#-Sialon ceramics were prepared using mixtures of samarium with calcium, magnesium, yttrium and ytterbium, and compared with a pure Sm-Sialon of equivalent total stabilising cation composition. A ratio of 80eq% samarium to 20eq% of the second stabilising additive was used. Samples were fired at 1820 deg C and subsequently heat treated at 1450 deg C. XRD phase analysis showed that all additives resulted in greater #alpha#-Sialon stability, and that calcium was the most effective additive for the stabilisation of the #alpha#-Sialon phase. Copyright (1998) Australasian Ceramic Society

1998-09-28

In-depth survey report of Scoular Elevator, Salina, Kansas

The method of augmented plane wave (APW) is used to obtain the band structure of the SmS compound in the semiconductor and metal phases. The noncentral part of the Coulomb electron-electron interaction is taken into account in the first order perturbation theory. In this case the radial part of the wave APW-function is taken as a zero approximation function. A multiplet structure of the excited configuration f"5d, which provides a good description of the X-ray photoelectron spectrum and optical spectrum epsilon_2(#omega#), is obtained. The configuration fd is calculated for the interpretation of the optical absorption spectrum of the samarium monosulfide metal phase. (author).

Aluminium Phosphide-Induced Esophageal Stricture Palliation with Polyflex Stent

An in/depth industrial hygiene survey of exposures to phosphine during the use of aluminum phosphide was conducted as part of a survey on exposure to grain fumigants. Area monitoring and breathing-zone sampling for phosphine were conducted during the addition of aluminum phosphide to grain during turning operations; source samples and peak personal exposures were also analyzed. Major sources of personal exposure included the escape of air from the bin headspace during filling with treated grain, filling and emptying of the phosphide pellet dispenser, and infiltration from the treated grain bin and from the pellet dispenser itself into adjacent air space. Relatively good dust control was indicated by the total dust samples collected during the survey. Measures recommended by the author are in the report.

1987-06-01

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A 21-year-old woman developed midesophageal stricture two weeks after ingestion of aluminium phosphide (AlP) tablets. Aluminium phosphide is a lethal protoplasmic toxin and is also the most common cause of suicidal poisoning in northern India. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGIE) showed a tight esophageal stricture 29?cm from the incisors with a circumferential ulcer. Dilatation up to 17?mm was done using Savary-Gilliard dilators. She had repeated dilatations three times at nearly two-week intervals. In view of the resistant stricture, a silicone Polyflex stent was placed across the stricture and removed after 3?months; there was no recurrence of stricture even after three months of follow-up. Patients with recurrent esophageal stricture and those with fistula may benefit from silicone ...

2008-01-01

Electronic structure and properties of boron phosphide and boron arsenide

Thermal stability of mixed-cation #alpha#-sialon ceramics

The composite wave variational version of the APW (augmented plane wave) method is used to obtain the electronic band structure of the compounds boron phosphide and boron arsenide at the high symmetry points #GAMMA#, X, and L. The tight binding interpolation scheme of Slater and Koster is used to calculate the rest of the band structure. The results show that both these materials are indirect band gap semiconductors. The density of states, and the imaginary part of the dielectric constant is also calculated. The theoretical results are compared with the reported experimental and theoretical data. (author).

Preparation and dosimetry of radiotherapeutic particles for arthropaties; Preparacion y dosimetria de particulas radioterapeuticas para artropatias

A series of #alpha#-sialon (#alpha#') compositions containing mixed stabilising cations were prepared, by introducing additional CaO to a basic Sm #alpha#-sialon compositions. The thermal stability of these Sm-Ca-containing #alpha#-sialon phases was investigated using XRD, SEM and EDXS techniques. It was found that the addition of calcium into the Sm #alpha#-sialon systems greatly improved the stability of the #alpha#-sialon phases. Calcium was found to be incorporated into the #alpha#-sialon structure, coexistent with the samarium, and partitioning of the calcium and samarium was observed between the #alpha#' phase and grain boundary phases. This indicates a technique which may be used to improve the thermal stability of the #alpha#' phase while maintaining good refractory phases at the sialon grain boundaries.

2003-01-02

In-depth survey report of Early and Daniel Co. , Inc. , Louisville, Kentucky

It was developed a new formulation of macro aggregates of Samarium 153 ({sup 153} Sm-MH) for the arthropaties treatment. The radio pharmaceutic was prepared by reaction of Samarium 153 chloride (SmCl{sub 3}) in aqueous environment with sodium boron hydride in NaOH 0.5 N. The microscopic analysis shown that the particles have an average size of 4% m (range 1-14 {mu} m). The velocity of sedimentation was 0.008 cm/min with high stability in vitro in human serum. The biological studies in healthy rabbits, shown that the complex is retained inside the articulation still eight days after of the administration of the radiopharmaceutical. Likewise, it is presented the data of absorbed dose in the different target organs, which was determined by thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) through the use of a REMCAL phantom (radiation equivalent manikin calibration). (Author)

1999-07-01

Ceramics based on SmCoO{sub 3-{delta}} prepared by combustion synthesis as catalysts in hydrocarbon partial oxidation

An in-depth industrial hygiene survey was conducted to evaluate worker exposures to phosphine during fumigation of grain at the Early and Daniel Co. grain elevator in Louisville, Kentucky. Stored grain was fumigated using aluminum phosphide. Aluminum-phosphide pellets were also added directly to the grain by the blender as it was poured into the storage containers. Local exhaust ventilation was used at points in the grain-moving system where grain dust was generated. Air samples were taken during full-shift periods at the breathing zone of the weighmaster, two bin floormen, and the blender. Area monitoring samples were also taken. If the operators spend considerable time in the vicinity of a bin which is being filled with grain, there is a likelihood of far greater exposure levels being noted. According to the author, further studies of the use of phosphide products at other elevators should be conducted to determine the ...

1986-09-01

Impaired mitochondrial energy metabolism and kinetic properties of cytochrome oxidase following acute aluminium phosphide exposure in rat liver

Samarium cobaltite ceramic perovskites, with and without platinum particles dispersion, are possible candidates as electrode for electrochemical conversion of hydrocarbon and for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (ITSOFC). In this work, samarium cobaltites were synthesized by the combustion method using cobalt, and samarium nitrates as cation precursors and urea as fuel. For containing-platinum compositions Pt (II) acetyl acetonate was also employed as precursor. The effect of Sr on the phase formation and its electrical behavior is also studied. Specific surface area (BET), SEM-EDX, TEM and XRD analysis are used to characterize the powders obtained. Powders were pressed into pellets and sintered in air in the temperature range of 1200 -1400 C. Electrical impedance spectroscopy studies (EIS) are performed on sintered samples. The as-prepared powders showed an amorphous structure and by TEM a very small ...

2002-07-01

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The present study was designed with an aim to analyze the effect of acute aluminium phosphide (ALP) exposure (10mg/kg b.wt, intragastrically) on the kinetic characteristics of cytochrome oxidase and energy metabolism in male Wistar rat liver mitochondria. Liver mitochondrial preparations from ALP-treated rats exhibited significant decrease (66%) in the activity of cytochrome oxidase suggesting that there was a decrease in the catalytic efficiency of the active oxidase molecules on ALP treatment. The decreased activity of cytochrome oxidase with altered NADH and succinic dehydrogenase activities might have contributed towards a significant decline in state 3 and state 4 respiration as observed. These alterations in the electron transport chain complexes in turn adversely affected the ATP sy...

2010-01-01

Alumnium phosphide fatalities at mild exertion in asymptomatic children: A clue to understand the variations of the autopsy findings

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Fatalities resulted from aluminium phosphide (ALP) intoxication in completely healthy children with no preceded clinical sings or symptoms were presented. Data regarding circumstances, autopsy reports, histopathological examination, toxicological investigation, and police enquiries were also collected and evaluated. The affected children were females, and 6-16 years old. They were completely healthy and died suddenly in relation to some physical activities such as running, walking, and bathing, without any prior complain. The viscera showed intense congestion with moderate to severe pulmonary edema. The cause of the sudden termination of life in the reported cases is mostly cardiac ones. Physical exertion may precipitate death due to increased cardiac stress, increased oxygen demand, and b...

2009-01-01

Aluminium phosphide poisoning with esophageal stricture and tracheoesophageal fistula

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Background Aluminium phosphide tablets popularly known, as ?celphos? is a highly toxic fumigant used as insecticide for preservation of food grains. India is an agricultural country and celphos tablets are easily available to psychologically vulnerable young people. It is swallowed with suicidal intent and death comes in minutes. Patients and methods In this series there were seven patients with tracheo esophageal complications out of 342 patients reviewed. Four patients had esophageal stricture and three had stricture plus tracheo esophageal fistulas. Types of symptoms including progressive dyshagia and extent of respiratory symptoms were evaluated. Nutrition status and success or failure of dilatation at the time of endoscopy was taken into account. The criteria for oesophageal replaceme...

2010-01-01

A computational study of aluminum phosphide nanotubes

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Electronic structures of two representative zigzag and armchair models of aluminum phosphide nanotube (AlPNT) were investigated by density functional theory calculations. The structures were optimized and the bond lengths, tip diameters, band gaps, and dipole moments were calculated. Moreover, the quadrupole coupling constants (CQ) were calculated for the Al-27 atoms of the optimized structures. The same values of AlP bond lengths were calculated for both models. The larger value of band gap of armchair model than the zigzag model indicated the stronger dielectric property for the former model. The values of CQ(27Al) were the largest for the Al atoms placed at the tips of both zigzag and armchair AlPNT than other Al atoms, which could reveal dominant role of the Al atoms placed at...

2011-01-01

Breakdown electroluminescence spectra in structures based on the solid solutions Ga/sub 1-x/Al/sub x/P(As)

A gas chromatographic analysis of phosphine in biological material in a case of suicide

The authors investigate the breakdown luminescence spectra in reverse-biased p-n heterojunctions based on gallium and aluminum phosphides and arsenides for the purpose of determining their behavior as lasing and photodetection materials. Data are given on temperature coefficients, band gap structure, bremsstrahlung, hot carrier mobility and photon emission, and transition and recombination parameters.

1987-08-01

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In a suicide committed using aluminium phosphide (AlP) the liberated toxic phosphine gas was detected in post-mortem specimens using a headspace gas chromatographic procedure with a nitrogen-phosphorous detector (HS-GC/NPD). At autopsy a direct sampling into airtight headspace vials for a later analysis is recommended. AlP has to be considered a potent pesticide and its use and availability should be restricted as much as possible.

2008-01-01

1 2 3

Trace metal characterization of the U-Al matrix by atomic spectroscopy

Neutron scattering studies of mixed-valence semiconductors

Uranium-aluminum alloys with a significant enrichment of uranium with "2"3"3U or "2"3"5U serve as nuclear fuels in research reactors. The quality assurance of this fuel requires, among other things, precise knowledge that all trace metal constituents that affect neutron economy, fuel integrity, and fuel fabrication process parameters are well within the specification limits. Trace metal characterization of "2"3"5U-Al alloy has been carried out by atomic spectrometry. The trace metal constituents of interest are grouped into common metals (silver, boron, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sodium, nickel, lead, silicon, tin, titanium, vanadium, tungsten, and zinc) and lanthanides (cerium, dysprosium, europium, gadolinium, holminium, lutetium, samarium, and terbium). The elements yttrium and zirconium are grouped with the latter in view of the chemical separation procedure used. The alloy samples are dissolved in 6 M ...

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Sm{sub 3}ReO{sub 7}

Neutron scattering experiments on the mixed-valence (MV) compounds SmB{sub 6} are reported. The inelastic magnetic response of SmB{sub 6} at T = 2 K, measured on a double-isotope single crystal,displays a strongly damped peak at 35 meV corresponding to the inter multiplet transition of Sm{sup 2+}. At lower energies ( h.{omega} {approx_equal} 14 meV), a narrow magnetic excitation is observed, with remarkable scattering-vector and temperature dependences of its intensity. This novel feature is discussed in terms of recent theoretical works describing the formation of an anisotropic local bound state in semiconducting MV materials. If the average samarium valence is decreased by substituting La for Sm, a peak is found to appear at high energies. The elastic magnetic form factor of SmB{sub 6} was determined using polarised neutrons and no significant difference is observed in its Q-dependence with respect to that of pure divalent samarium. This ...

1994-12-31

The study of thermal characteristics of high temperature oven for atomic spectroscopy

Crystals of a new ternary samarium rhenium oxide, Sm{sub 3}ReO{sub 7} were obtained by subsolidus reaction of samariumsesquioxide and rheniumdioxide (ratio 1.5:1) in sealed Pt-10Rh-tubes at 1673 K. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Sm{sub 3}ReO{sub 7} crystallizes in the orthorohombic system with unit cell dimensions a = 10.736(5), b = 7.392(3), and c = 7.519(3) in space group Cmcm (No. 63) with Z = 4. The structure consists of ReO{sub 6} octahedra, distorted SmO{sub 6} octahedra, and SmO{sub 8} prisms that are interconnected to each other to form a three-dimensional network. Rhenium has the formal oxidation state of +5 but no metal-metal bond is observed in this compound. The observed magnetization in the temperature range 4 K < T < 52 K is explained by a Curie-Weiss law modified by a temperature independent Van Vleck paramagnetism of samarium (3+).

1996-08-01

Nanocrystal conversion chemistry: A unified and materials-general strategy for the template-based synthesis of nanocrystalline solids

We present a high temperature heat oven with merits of conventional heat pipe oven and study ots thermal characteristics. The oven consists of stainless steel body and heating part of three layers of ceramic tubes. We obtained the maximum temperature of about 1350. deg. C at the center which was measured by thermocouple and infrared thermometer. And we compared the heating characteristics in the cases of external heating and no extent heating. It was applied to self diffraction experiment in the samarium gas which was one of the high melting point material.

1997-11-01

High bandgap window layer for GaAs solar cells and fabrication process therefor

The concept of nanocrystal conversion chemistry, which involves the use of pre-formed nanoparticles as templates for chemical transformation into derivative solids, has emerged as a powerful approach for designing the synthesis of complex nanocrystalline solids. The general strategy exploits established synthetic capabilities in simple nanocrystal systems and uses these nanocrystals as templates that help to define the composition, crystal structure, and morphology of product nanocrystals. This article highlights key examples of 'conversion chemistry' approaches to the synthesis of nanocrystalline solids using a variety of techniques, including galvanic replacement, diffusion, oxidation, and ion exchange. The discussion is organized according to classes of solids, highlighting the diverse target systems that are accessible using similar chemical concepts: metals, oxides, chalcogenides, phosphides, alloys, intermetallic compounds, sulfides, and nitrides. - Graphical ...

2008-07-01

Process for the production of a particularly finely divided, homogeneous transition metal phosphide and transition metal chalcogenide. Verfahren zum Herstellen besonders feinteiliger, homogener Uebergangsmetallphosphide und Uebergangsmetallchalkogenide

The specification describes a semiconductor solar cell and fabrication process therefor wherein a thin N-type gallium arsenide layer is deposited on a larger P-type substrate layer which is selected from the group of III-V ternary compounds consisting of aluminum phosphide antimonide, AlPSb, and aluminum indium phosphide, AlInP. P-type impurities are diffused from the substrate layer into a portion of the thin N-type gallium arsenide layer to form P-type region wherein which defines a PN junction in the thin gallium arsenide layer. Thus, the quantity of gallium arsenide required to provide this PN photovoltaic junction layer in the cell is minimized, and th P-type substrate serves as a high bandgap window layer for the cell. Such high bandgap of this window material is especially well suited for efficiently transmitting the blue spectrum of sunlight to the PN junction, thus enhancing the power conversion efficiency of the solar cell.

1979-05-29

Milling materials using CO{sub 2} clusters; Materialbearbeitung durch Clusterionenbeschuss

The purpose of the invention is a process for the production of a particularly finely divided, homogeneous transition metal phosphide and transition metal chalcogenide of Daltonian stochiometry by the conversion of at least one powder transition metal or a transition metal alloy with phosphorus or with a chalcogen at raised temperature, which is characterized by the fact that the conversion is carried out in the presence of at least one inert finely divided auxiliary material which is soluble in water and does not sinter together at the reaction temperature, and that the conversion produce removes the auxiliary material. Even relatively small quantities of the auxiliary material are sufficient to ensure rapid and homogeneous conversion of the reaction partners to the reaction product having a large surface. A ratio of 1 part by volume of a mixture of a transition metal and phosphorus or chalcogen to 1 part by volume of finely divided auxiliary material proved ...

1980-06-26

The formation of aluminum phosphide in aluminum melt treated with an Al-Fe-P inoculant addition

The Sputter coefficient of accelerated CO{sub 2} cluster ions hitting surfaces of various materials is investigated. For copper it varies proportional to the 2nd power of the energy between 155 and 260 keV. The rate of erosion for different target materials varies by two orders of magnitude from tungsten to PMMA. Diamond is eroded fairly quickly, while aluminum is eroded less than corundum (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}). No simple correlation of the sputter coefficient on the bulk material properties is found. For copper the angular distribution of sputtered material is measured and found to be following roughly a cosine distribution. By using masks different microstructures have been produced in cobalt-samarium magnets, diamond and glass. (orig.)

1993-10-01

III-phosphides heterojunction solar cell interface properties from admittance spectroscopy

The morphology and size characteristics of the population of AlP particles produced by treatment of a pure aluminium melt with an Al-Fe-P inoculant addition have been determined. The particles are shown to be polyhedral like the primary silicon they nucleate in hypereutectic Al-Si alloy melts and to be prone to clustering at increased phosphorus addition levels. The number of AlP particles per unit area is shown to be comparable with the corresponding number density of polyhedral primary silicon in Al-20 wt.% Si treated in the same way under identical conditions which is consistent with earlier conclusions that AlP acts as a nucleation catalyst for primary silicon in hypereutectic Al-Si casting alloys. (orig.)

2001-04-01

The crystal structure of the novel ternary silicide Sm_4Pd_4Si_3

GaInP solar cell interfaces were characterized by admittance spectroscopy. Admittance spectroscopy is shown to be sensitive to the band structure at the heterojunction interfaces. In particular, a correlation between activation energy of the capacitance step in a capacitance versus temperature plot and effective potential barrier for majority carriers is demonstrated, indicating a new method for the determination of potential barriers at heterointerfaces. Using this technique, the effective potential barrier for holes at the p-Al_0_._5_3In_0_._4_7P/p-GaAs interface is found to be equal to 0.6 eV. Effects of interface defects and spreading resistance in the emitter of solar cells are illustrated and discussed.

2009-08-21

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of Sm3+-doped LaMgB5O10 and GdMgB5O10

The crystal structure of the compound Sm_4Pd_4Si_3 was determined by the single-crystal method (KM-4 automatic diffractometer, Mo K#alpha# radiation). Sm_4Pd_4Si_3 has the monoclinic Nd_4Rh_4Ge_3 type structure: space group C2/c, mC44 (No. 15), a=20.693(6), b=5.584(1), c=7.699(2) A, #beta#=109.48(3) , V=838 A"3, Z=4, #mu#=36.23 mm"-"1, R_F=0.0537, R_W=0.0435 for 1652 unique reflections. The coordination numbers of samarium atoms are 17 and 18. For palladium and silicon atoms icosahedra and trigonal prisms with additional atoms are typical as coordination polyhedra. The structure of Sm_4Pd_4Si_3 is composed of fragments of the YPd_2Si and Y_3Rh_2Si_2 structure in a ratio 1:1. (orig.).

Study on pyrolysing behavior of NiO-SDC composite particles prepared by spray pyrolysis technique

Luminescence and reflection spectra as well as luminescence kinetics of the 1 mol% Sm3+-doped crystalline lanthanum magnesium meta borate (LaMgB5O10) and gadolinium magnesium meta borate (GdMgB5O10) were analyzed. Materials were synthesized by conventional solid state route and showed bright orange-red emission under UV excitation. Emission spectra contain sharp and well resolved Sm3+4G5/2#->#6HJ transitions indicating a strong crystal-field effect. In case of gadolinium compound energy transfer between Gd3+ and Sm3+ was detected. The luminescent kinetics of the Sm3+ in analyzed powders is characterized by single exponential decay and experimental values vary in the range 2.2-2.4 ms. - Research highlights: ? Phosphorescence of samarium-doped lanthanide magnesium meta borates. ? Bright and well resolved orange-red emission of Sm3+ under UV excitation. ? Energy transfer from Gd3+ to Sm3+ in gadolinium magnesium meta borate is observed. ? The decay lifetimes is ...

2011-07-01

Microwave dissolution of plant tissue and the subsequent determination of trace lanthanide and actinide elements by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

The NiO-samaria doped ceria (SDC) composite powders were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique at temperatures between 400 and 1000 C. The variation of the particle structure was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM)-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The thermal analysis of raw materials was also carried out. The following facts became clear in this study. Ceria and nickel have been already separated at 400 C. Samaria is amorphous phase below 600 C, and is dissolved in ceria at 600 C or higher. Samaria is distributed uniformly inside the particles before dissolving in ceria. The thermal decomposition temperatures of metal nitrate are: cerium < nickel < samarium. The results of these analyses were explained without contradiction. It was found that it is important to optimize the state of liquid drop before thermal ...

2007-03-15

Melilite formation in a samarium-stabilized #alpha#-sialon ceramic during postsintering heat treatments

Recently there has been much concern with the ability of plants to uptake heavy metals from their surroundings. With the development of instrumental techniques with low detection limits such as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), attention is shifting toward achieving faster and more elegant ways of oxidizing the organic material inherent in environmental samples. Closed-vessel microwave dissolution was compared with conventional methods for the determination of concentrations of cerium, samarium, europium, terbium, uranium and thorium in a series of samples from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and from fields in Idaho. The ICP-MS technique exhibited detection limits in parts-per-trillion and linear calibration plots over three orders of magnitude for the elements under study. The results obtained by using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a microwave digestion system for the analysis of reference materials showed close ...

1997-08-01

Effect of hot air aging on properties of EPDM/SmBO3/EVA and EPDM/ATO/EVA composites

The formation of the melilite solid solution phase (M'), Sm_2Si_3_-_xAl_xO_3_+_xN_4_-_x, in an #alpha#-sialon sample of overall composition Sm_0_._6Si_9_._2_8Al_2_._6_9O_1_._3_6N_1_4_._7_6, was studied as a function of time in the temperature interval 1,375--1,525 C. The #alpha#-sialon ceramic contained only minor amounts of the 21R sialon polytype and some residual grain-boundary glass before heat treatment. In situ studies by high-temperature X-ray diffraction were combined with postsintering heat treatment followed by quenching. The M'-phase was found to be formed by two different mechanisms: either crystallization of the residual grain-boundary liquid or a direct decomposition of the #alpha#-sialon phase. The liquid crystallized during the first 10--15 min of heat treatment, yielding a rapid M'-phase formation, and further formation of M'-phase continued at a much slower rate, related to the decomposition of #alpha#-sialon.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract Ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM)/samarium borate (SmBO3)/ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer and EPDM/antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO)/EVA composites are aged at 150C for different intervals. Surface modification is used to improve filler to matrix interphase. The main aim is to investigate the effect of filler type and vinyl acetate (VA) content in EVA on stability of EPDM composites. It is found that acidic ATO particles can lower pH level of EPDM composites and then promote the degradation of acetic acid during aging. Moreover, when VA content exceeds 14 wt %, the instable VA content causes more acetic acids escape during aging. With the increasing of aging time, EPDM/SmBO3 control and EPDM/SmBO3/EVA composites tend to become darker while EPDM/ATO and EPDM/ATO/EVA compos...

2011-01-01

The potential of III-V semiconductors as terrestrial photovoltaic devices

InAIP/InAlGaP distributed Bragg reflectors for visible vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers

III-V semiconductors, GaAs and in particular InGaP, are used in many different electronic applications, such as high power and high frequency devices, laser diodes and high brightness LED. Their direct bandgap and high reliability make them ideal candidates for the realisation of high efficiency solar cells: in the past years they have been successfully used as power sources for satellites in space, where they are able to produce electricity from sunlight with an overall efficiency of around 30%. Nowadays, the use of arsenides and phosphides as photovoltaic (PV) devices is confined only to space applications since their price is much higher than conventional Si flat panel modules, the leading PV market technology. But with the introduction of multijunction solar cells capable of operating in high concentration solar light, the area and, therefore, the cost of these cells can be reduced and will eventually find an application and market also on Earth. This article ...

2006-07-01

High-efficiency solar cell and method for fabrication

Distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) composed of In_0_._5Al_0_._5P/In_0_._5(Al_yGa_1_-_y)_0_._5P quarter-wave layers have been prepared using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. The structures were grown over a wide range of high-index layer composition (0#<=#y#<=#0.6) and peak reflectivity wavelength (720 nm#<=##lambda##<=#565 nm, covering the spectrum from deep red to green). In all cases observed and calculated reflectance spectra were in excellent agreement. Using these DBRs, an undoped all-phosphide visible vertical cavity surface-emitting laser structure was grown. Under pulsed optical excitation at room temperature, lasing was obtained at a wavelength of #lambda##approx#670 nm, with a threshold power density comparable to that observed from similar structures prepared using AlAs/AlGaAs DBRs.

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of Sm{sub 2}ReO{sub 5}

A high-efficiency 3- or 4-junction solar cell is disclosed with a theoretical AM0 energy conversion efficiency of about 40%. The solar cell includes p-n junctions formed from indium gallium arsenide nitride (InGaAsN), gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium gallium aluminum phosphide (InGaAlP) separated by n-p tunnel junctions. An optional germanium (Ge) p-n junction can be formed in the substrate upon which the other p-n junctions are grown. The bandgap energies for each p-n junction are tailored to provide substantially equal short-circuit currents for each p-n junction, thereby eliminating current bottlenecks and improving the overall energy conversion efficiency of the solar cell. Additionally, the use of an InGaAsN p-n junction overcomes super-bandgap energy losses that are present in conventional multi-junction solar cells. A method is also disclosed for fabricating the high-efficiency 3- or 4-junction solar cell by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). ...

1999-08-31

Effects of helium/DPA ratio, alloy composition and cold work on microstructural evolution and hardening of "5"9Ni-doped Fe-Cr-Ni alloys neutron-irradiated at 465 C

Crystals of disamarium rhenium (IV) pentoxide, Sm{sub 2}ReO{sub 5}, were obtained by subsolidus reaction of samariumsesquioxide and rheniumdioxide (ratio 1:1) in sealed Pt 10Rh tubes at 1673 K. The structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Sm{sub 2}ReO{sub 5} crystallizes in the tetragonal system with unit cell dimensions a = 8.646(3) {angstrom} and c = 5.747(2) {angstrom} and space group P4/n (no. 85) with Z = 4. The structure consists of isolated RE{sub 2}O{sub 8} groups and the (Sm{sub 4}O) chains are inter-connected by common oxygen atoms to form a three-dimensional network. Each Re{sub 2}O{sub 8} group is composed of a pair of rhenium each surrounded by four oxygens with a short Re-Re distance of 2.251(1) {angstrom} indicating a metal-metal bond. Rhenium has the formal oxidation state of +4. The observed magnetizations in the temperature range 1.8 < T < 100 K exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering below 2.4(1) K and obey a Curie-Weiss law modified by a ...

1997-08-01

1 2 3

Effect of various coal contaminants on the performance of solid oxide fuel cells: Part I. Accelerated testing

Three ternary austenitic alloys (Fe-15Cr-25Ni, Fe-15Cr-25Ni-0.04P, Fe-15Cr-45Ni in both annealed and cold worked conditions) were irradiated at 465 C to 0.15, 0.28, and 0.42 dpa at above core position in the Fast Flux Test Facility utilizing the Materials Open Test Assembly to study the separate and synergistic effects of He/dpa ratio, phosphorus addition, nickel content and cold work level on microstructural evolution and hardening. The helium/dpa ratio was varied by isotopic doping with "5"9Ni to enhance the production rate of helium. The helium production rate was evaluated to be 62 appm He/dpa in the "5"9Ni-doped specimens and 0.26 appm He/dpa in the undoped specimens. Transmission electron microscopic examinations revealed that alloy composition affected significantly the evolution of microstructure during irradiation. Phosphorus addition prevented the formation of Frank loops through the precipitation of phosphide. Nickel content influenced the nucleation of ...

1994-06-20