Synthesis of ZrO_2-HfO_2-Y_2O_3-Sc_2O_3 Nano-Particles by Sol-Gel Technique in Aqueous Solution of Alcohol

Agglomeration-free nanosized ZrO2-HfO2-Y2O3-Sc2O3 composite powders were successfully synthesized by Sol-Gel technique in heated aqueous solution of alcohol, using analytically pure ZrOCl2 · 8H2O, HfOCl2·8H2O, Y（NO3）3·6H2O, and Sc2O3 as raw materials. The effect of synthesis condition on the size and dispersity of the composite powders was investigated by means of XRD, TEM, and TG-DSC techniques. The results showed that well-dispersed predecessor of ZrO2-HfO2-Y2O3-Sc2O3 composite nanopowders could be obtained. The optional condition ： PEG6000 as dispersant was 1%, alcohol/H2O ratio was 5/1, metallic ion concentration in whole solution was 0.5 mol·L^-1 and the pH value of the solution was 12. After calcined at 620 ℃, the powder obtained was in uniform cubic structure, and its average particle size was about 13 nm, which was good for producing nanocrystalline solid electrolyte.

Graphene Oxide Functionalized Optical Planar Waveguide for Water Content Measurement in Alcohol

An abrupt change in optical transmission characteristic of a graphene oxide(GO)coated optical planar waveguide was observed.This observation was based on the peculiar characteristics of the graphene oxide film,namely its high transverse-electric polarized light propagation loss,highly selective permeability of water,and change in optical propagation characteristic in the presence of water.The as-fabricated GO-coated optical waveguide showed a large polarization dependent loss of~32 dB in the C-band optical fiber communication window(1550 nm).The response of the proposed sensor was first tested by using water.When a drop of water was applied onto the GO coating,the large polarization dependent loss was fully suppressed almost instantaneously.This effect was reversible as the polarization dependent loss was restored after complete water evaporation from the GO coating.All-optical measurement of water content in alcohol was then demonstrated by using the GO-coated optical waveguide.By analyzing the drying profile of the water-alcohol mixture,water content in the range of 0.2 volume%-100 volume%could be measured.These measurements were carried out by using solution volume of 1.0μL only.The all-optical sensing nature of the proposed sensor has potential applications in in-situ monitoring of water content in alcohol.