Mixed Phase Anatase/rutile Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene-blue

Titanium dioxide Nanotubes(TNTs) prepared by electroless deposition have been annealed at air ambient and low temperature. As a result, the anatase/rutile phase composition of the TNTs can be tailored to the needs of later applications. Nanotubes with anatase/rutile mixed phase ratio of 4:1 have been produced in this report and further examined for their photocatalytical behavior. The photocatalytical properties of the TNTs have been observed by degradation of methylene-blue in aqueous solution under low power UV-light irradiation. The results shown in this report are based on the synergetic effect between rutile and anatase,which results in the mixed phase TiO 2 nanotubes having enhanced photocatalytical properties.

Correlations in Nuclear Interactions between ECM/u and Unexplained Experimental Observables

A new concept is introduced for the classification of “unresolved problems” in the understanding of interactions in thick targets irradiated with relativistic ions: The centre-of-mass energy per nucleon of a hypothetical compound nucleus from a primary interaction, ECM/u, is calculated and correlated with experimental observations in thick target irradia- tions. One observes in various reactions of relativistic primary ions with thick targets that there appears to be a thresh- old energy for reactions leading to “unresolved problems” which lies around ECM/u ~ 150 MeV. All “unresolved prob- lems” are exclusively observed above this threshold, whereas below this threshold no “unresolved problems” are found. A similar threshold at 158 ± 3 MeV exists for massive pion production in nuclear interactions. Hagedorn had proposed this threshold decades ago and it is known as the Hagedorn limit. In this paper we will only mention, but not elaborate on Hagedorn’s theoretical concept any further. Some considerations will be presented and further studies in this field are suggested.

Effect of Different Calcination Temperatures and Post Annealing on the Properties of Acetic Acid Based Sol-Gel (Na_(0.5)K_(0.5))NbO_3(NKN) Thin Films

（Na0.5K0.5）NbO3 （NKN） lead free thin films were synthesized by means of an acetic acid based sol-gel process on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates. Na-acetate, K-acetate and Nb-pentaethoxide were used as metal precursors and acetic acid as the solvent. The effect of different calcination temperatures on the properties of the NKN films was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, leakage current and hysteresis measurements. Low calcination temperatures led to low currents at high electric fields whereas high calcination temperatures led to low currents at low electric fields. Based on these findings calcination at low temperature was combined with a post annealing treatment. Low leakage currents of 4×10^-4 A/cm2 at 150 kV/cm and 2Pr and 2Ec values of 28 μC/cm2 and 150 kV/cm, respectively, could be obtained. All films were single phase NKN with random crystal orientations and no crack or pore formation was visible on the surface.

Synthesis and Characterization of(Na_(0.5)K_(0.5))NbO_3(NKN) Thin Films Formed by a Diol-based Sol-gel Process

Lead-free （Na0.sK0.5）Nb03 （NKN） thin films were fabricated by spin coating on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by a diol-based sol-gel process. Na-acetate, K-acetate, Nb-pentaethoxide and 1,3 propanediol were used to prepare the NKN precursor solution. Thermal analysis showed two characteristic temperatures of 360 and 600℃. Based on these temperatures, a heat treatment program with pyrolysis at 360℃ and calcination at 600℃ after every layer was used. To avoid inhomogeneities and secondary phases, an excess of sodium and potassium was necessary. To evaluate the proper excess amount of sodium and potassium secondary ion mass spectrometry （SIMS） lateral element maps and X-ray diffraction （XRD） patterns were recorded. An excess amount of 20% led to homogeneous distribution of the elements and to single phase perovskite NKN films with random crystal orientation. Scanning electron microscopy （SEMI images showed a pore free surface with 100 nm grains. The leakage current measurements showed a current of lx10-3 A/cm2 at 150 kV/cm.