Comparative Study between Lead Oxide and Lead Nitrate Polymer as Gamma-Radiation Shielding Materials

In this work, the Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/lead oxide and the Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/lead nitrate composites were prepared as gamma-radiation shielding materials. The investigated materials were prepared with three different weight percentage of lead oxide and lead nitrate (30, 50 and 70 wt%). The mass attenuation coefficients (μm) for all composite samples were measured experimentally at 511 and 661.6 keV photon energies. The measurements were made by performing transmission experiments with a 3'' × 3'' NaI (Tl) scintillation detector, which had an energy resolution of 7% at 0.662 MeV for the gamma-rays from the decay of 137Cs. The effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and the effective electron densities (Neff) were determined experimentally. Also they were determined theoretically using the obtained μm values for the studied composites samples by WinXCom program. The obtained results show that the experimental values of the composites are found to be in a good agreement with the theoretical values. It is recognized that the mass attenuation coefficient (μm), effective atomic numbers (Zeff) and the effective electron densities (Neff) are increased in the composite samples which contain lead oxides than which contain lead nitrates. Finally, the Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/lead oxide is better than Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/lead nitrate polymer as gamma radiation shielding.

Comparative study of oxidation ability between boron-doped diamond (BDD) and lead oxide (PbO_2) electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation capabilities of two high-performance electrodes,the boron-doped diamond film on Ti （Ti/BDD） and the lead oxide film on Ti （Ti/PbO2）,were discussed.Hydroxyl radicals （·HO） generated on the electrode surface were detected by using p-nitrosodimethylaniline （RNO） as the trapping reagent.Electrochemical oxidation measurements,including the chemical oxygen demand （COD） removal and the current efficiency （CE）,were carried out via the degradation of p-nitrophenol （PNP） under the galvanostatic condition.The results indicate that an indirect reaction,which is attributed to free hydroxyl radicals with high activation,conducts on the Ti/BDD electrode,while the absorbed hydroxyl radicals generated at the Ti/PbO2 surface results in low degradation efficiency.Due to quick mineralization which combusts PNP to CO2 and H2O absolutely by the active hydroxyl radical directly,the CE obtained on the Ti/BDD electrode is much higher than that on the Ti/PbO2 electrode,notwithstanding the number of hydroxyl radicals produced on PbO2 is higher than that on the BDD surface.

Synthesis of Micron-sized Hexagonal and Flowerlike Nanostructures of Lead Oxide (PbO_2) by Anodic Oxidation of Lead

Micron sized hexagon- and flower-like nanostructures of lead oxide（α-PbO2） have been synthesized by very simple and cost effective route of anodic oxidation of lead sheet. These structures were easily obtained by the simple variation of applied voltage from 2-6 V between the electrodes. Lead sheet was used as an anode and platinum sheet served as a cathode. Anodic oxidation at 2 V resulted in the variable edge sized（1-2 μm） hexagon-like structures in the electrolyte. When the applied potential was increased to 4 V a structure of distorted hexagons consisting of some flower-like structures were obtained. Further increment of potential up to 6 V resulted in flower like structures of α-PbO2 having six petals. The diameter of the flower-like structures was 200-500 nm and the size of a petal was 100-200 nm.

Effect of the CaO/SiO2 mass ratio and FeO content on the viscosity of CaO–SiO2–“FeO”–12wt%ZnO–3wt%Al2O3 slags

An effective process for recycling lead from hazardous waste cathode ray tubes（CRTs） funnel glass through traditional lead smelting has been presented previously. The viscous behavior of the molten high lead slag, which is affected by the addition of funnel glass, plays a critical role in determining the production efficiency. Therefore, the viscosities of the CaO–SiO_2–＂FeO＂–12wt%ZnO–3wt%Al_2O_3 slags were measured in the current study using the rotating spindle method. The slag viscosity decreases as the CaO/SiO_2 mass ratio is increased from 0.8 to 1.2 and also as the FeO content is increased from 8wt% to 20wt%. The breaking temperature of the slag is lowered substantially by the addition of FeO, whereas the influence of the CaO/SiO_2 mass ratio on the breaking temperature is complex. The structural analysis of quenched slags using Fourier transform infrared（FTIR） spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy reveals that the silicate network structure is depolymerized with increasing CaO/SiO_2 mass ratio or increasing FeO content. The [FeO_6]-octahedra in the slag melt increase as the CaO/SiO_2 mass ratio or the FeO content increases. This increase can further decrease the degree of polymerization（DOP） of the slag. Furthermore, the activation energy for viscous flow decreases both with increasing CaO/SiO_2 mass ratio and increasing FeO content.

Generation of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) from sodium chloride solution using C/PbO_2 and Pb/PbO_2 electrodes

Two modified electrodes （Pb/PbO2 and C/PbO2） were prepared by electrodepositing a lead oxide layer on lead and carbon sub- strates. These modified electrodes were used as anodes for the generation of sodium hypochlorite （NaOC1） from sodium chloride solution. Different operating conditions and factors affecting the treatment process of NaOC1 generation, including current density, pH values, con- ductive electrolytes, and electrolysis time, were studied and optimized. By comparison the C/PbO2 electrode shows a higher efficiency than the Pb/PbO2 electrode for the generation of NaOC1.

Improving the fatigue endurance of lead zirconate titanate thin films through PbO interfacial modification

The effects of the modification of electrode/ceramic interfaces through a chemical solution deposition-derived PbO buffer layer on the fatigue endurance of lead zirconate titanate（PZT） thin films were investigated.The grain size and the surface roughness of the PZT films increased through PbO interfacial modification.Moreover,the PZT films with PbO interfacial modification had a better crystallographic structure and no evident secondary phases were observed.While the remanent polarization and dielectric constant were reduced,the fatigue endurance was improved.Based on the results,the mechanism for the fatigue endurance improvement was discussed.

Characterization,spectroscopic investigation of defects by positron annihilation,and possible application of synthesized PbO nanoparticles

Nanocrystalline samples of highly pure lead oxide were prepared by the sol-gel route of synthesis.X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic techniques confirmed the nanocrystallinity of the samples,and the average sizes of the crystallites were found within 20 nm to 35 nm.The nanocrystallites exhibited specific anomalous properties,among which a prominent one is the increased lattice parameters and unit cell volumes.The optical band gaps also increased when the nanocrystallites became smaller in size.The latter aspect is attributable to the onset of quantum confinement effects,as seen in a few other metal oxide nanoparticles.Positron annihilation was employed to study the vacancy type defects,which were abundant in the samples and played crucial roles in modulating their properties.The defect concentrations were significantly larger in the samples of smaller crystallite sizes.The results suggested the feasibility of tailoring the properties of lead oxide nanocrystallites for technological applications,such as using lead oxide nanoparticles in batteries for better performance in discharge rate and resistance.It also provided the physical insight into the structural build-up process when crystallites were formed with a finite number of atoms,whose distributions were governed by the site stabilization energy.

Anodic Synthesis and Characterization of Na-Pb-O, Na-Pb-Bi-O Crystals

Crystals of Na-Pb-O and Na-Pb-Bi-O were electrosynthesized on the anode from molten salts. The resulting crystals have a hexagonal structure, in which the base ions (Pb and Bi) are in high oxidation states. By using KOH/NaOH (atomic ratio K:Na=1:1) mixture as a flux, incorporation of K ions into the lattice is inhibited while incorporation of Bi ions is enhanced. The magnetic measurement shows that the Na-Pb-Bi-O crystals are dominated by diamagnetism.

Configuration interaction studies on the spectroscopic properties of PbO including spin-orbit coupling

Lead oxide（Pb O）, which plays the key roles in a range of research fields, has received a great deal of attention. Owing to the large density of electronic states and heavy atom Pb including in Pb O, the excited states of the molecule have not been well studied. In this work, high level multireference configuration interaction calculations on the low-lying states of Pb O have been carried out by utilizing the relativistic effective core potential. The effects of the core-valence correlation correction, the Davidson modification, and the spin–orbital coupling on the electronic structure of the Pb O molecule are estimated. The potential energy curves of 18 Λ-S states correlated to the lowest dissociation limit（Pb（~3P_g） ＋ O（~3P_g）） are reported. The calculated spectroscopic parameters of the electronic states below 30000 cm^（-1）, for instance, X^1Σ~＋, 1~3Σ~＋,and 1~3Σ^-, and their spin–orbit coupling interaction, are compared with the experimental results, and good agreements are derived. The dipole moments of the 18 Λ-S states are computed with the configuration interaction method, and the calculated dipole moments of X^1Σ~＋and 1~3Σ~＋are consistent with the previous experimental results. The transition dipole moments from 1~1Π, 2~1Π, and 2~Σ to X^1Σ~＋and other singlet excited states are estimated. The radiative lifetime of several low-lying vibrational levels of 1~1Π, 2~1Π, and 2~1Σ~＋ states are evaluated.

Rapid Synthesis of Lead Oxide Nanorods by One-step Solid-state Chemical Reaction at Room Temperature

A simple and facile method was reported to synthesize lead oxide nanorods. Nanorods of lead oxide were obtained directly from grinding solid metal salt and sodium hydroxide in agate mortar with the assistance of a suitable nonionic surfactant in only one step, which is different from the result of hydroxide in solution. The product has been characterized by XRD, TEM and SEM. The formation mechanism of rod-like morphology is discussed and the surfactant plays an important soft-template role in modifying the interface of solid-state reaction and according process of rod-formation.

Nondestructive identification of ancient Chinese glasses by Raman and proton-induced X-ray emission spectroscopy

Nondestructive Raman spectroscopy and external-beam proton-induced X-ray emission （PIXE） technique to analyze eight ancient glasses unearthed from the provinces of Henan,Hubei,and Jiangsu,which allowes for a good characterization of the glass matrix and chemical compositions,is carried out.The results indicate that all the eight glass samples could be typically divided into three systems： faience （sample No.SZWG-4）,PbO-BaO-SiO 2 （sample Nos.NYWKI-5-1,HNWKII-88,and HNWKII-84）,and Na 2 OCaO-SiO 2 （sample Nos.HBWKI-16,HBWKI-17,HBWKI-18,and SZWG-1）.Additional relationships between the Raman spectra and parameters,such as residues of raw materials and opacifying agent,are also discussed by respectively comparing them with similar glass samples excavated from other historical sites.

Effect of antimony on the reduction of anodic Pbo_2 film on Pb-Sb alloys in sulfuric acid solution

The reduction processes of anodic PbO2 films formed on Pb-Sb alloys in 4.5mol·dm-3 H2SO4 solution at 1.4 V(vs.Hg/Hg2SO4) for 1 h have been investigated by pho-tocurrent method,chronoamperometry,linear sweep voltammetry as well as X-ray diifractornetry.It was found that the reduction of most of the β-PbO2 and part of the α-PbO2 to PbSO4 can be completed within I s between 0.9 V and 1.0 V(vs.Hg/Hg2SO4) and proceeds much faster than that of the remaining a-PbO2 into photoactive α·PbOx (1<x<1.4).The presence of antimony in the alloy retards significantly the reduction of the remaining a-PbO2 and decreases slightly the band-gap energy of t-PbO.