16 research outputs found

    CF(x) thin solid films deposited by high power impulse magnetron sputtering: Synthesis and characterization

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    Fluorine containing amorphous carbon films (CF(x), 0.16 = 0.26. Nanoindentation reveals hardnesses between similar to 1 GPa and similar to 16 GPa and an elastic recovery of up to 98%. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    Reactive high power impulse magnetron sputtering of CFx thin films in mixed Ar/CF4 and Ar/C4F8 discharges

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    The reactive high power impulse magnetron sputtering processes of carbon in argon/tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and argon/octafluorocyclobutane (c-C4F8) have been characterized. Amorphous carbon fluoride (CFx) films were synthesized at deposition pressure and substrate temperature of 400 mPa and 110 C, respectively. The CFx film composition was controlled in the range of 0.15 < x < 0.35 by varying the partial pressure of the F-containing gases from 0 mPa to 110 mPa. The reactive plasma was studied employing time averaged positive ion mass spectrometry and the resulting thin films were characterized regarding their composition, chemical bonding and microstructure as well as mechanical properties by elastic recoil detection analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nanoindentation, and water droplet contact angle measurements, respectively. The experimental results were compared to results obtained by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The modeling of the most abundant precursor fragment from the dissociation of CF4 and C4F8 provided their relative stability, abundance, and reactivity, thus permitting to evaluate the role of each precursor during film growth. Positive ion mass spectrometry of both fluorine plasmas shows an abundance of CF+, C+, CF2 +, and CF3 + (in this order) as corroborated by first-principles calculations. Only CF3 + exceeded the Ar+ signal in a CF4 plasma. Two deposition regimes are found depending on the partial pressure of the fluorine-containing reactive gas, where films with fluorine contents below 24 at.% exhibit a graphitic nature, whereas a polymeric structure applies to films with fluorine contents exceeding 27 at.%. Moreover, abundant precursors in the plasma are correlated to the mechanical response of the different CFx thin films. The decreasing hardness with increasing fluorine content can be attributed to the abundance of CF3 + precursor species, weakening the carbon matrix. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

    Global effects of agriculture on fluvial dissolved organic matter

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    Agricultural land covers approximately 40% of Earth's land surface and affects hydromorphological, biogeochemical and ecological characteristics of fluvial networks. In the northern temperate region, agriculture also strongly affects the amount and molecular composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which constitutes the main vector of carbon transport from soils to fluvial networks and to the sea and is involved in a large variety of biogeochemical processes. Here, we provide first evidence about the wider occurrence of agricultural impacts on the concentration and composition of fluvial DOM across climate zones of the northern and southern hemispheres. Both extensive and intensive farming altered fluvial DOM towards a more microbial and less plant-derived composition. Moreover, intensive farming significantly increased dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations. The DOM composition change and DON concentration increase differed among climate zones and could be related to the intensity of current and historical nitrogen fertilizer use. As a result of agriculture intensification, increased DON concentrations and a more microbial-like DOM composition likely will enhance the reactivity of catchment DOM emissions, thereby fuelling the biogeochemical processing in fluvial networks and resulting in higher ecosystem productivity and CO2 outgassing

    Monitoring strategies of stream phosphorus under contrasting climate-driven flow regimes

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    Climate and hydrology are relevant control factors determining the timing and amount of nutrient losses from land to downstream aquatic systems, in particular of phosphorus (P) from agricultural lands. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the differences in P export patterns and the performance of alternative monitoring strategies in streams under contrasting climate-driven flow regimes. We compared a set of paired streams draining lowland micro-catchments under temperate climate and stable discharge conditions (Denmark) and under sub-tropical climate and flashy conditions (Uruguay). We applied two alternative nutrient sampling programs (high-frequency composite sampling and low-frequency instantaneous-grab sampling) and estimated the contribution derived from point and diffuse sources fitting a source apportionment model. We expected to detect a pattern of higher total and particulate phosphorus export from diffuse sources in streams in Uruguay streams, mostly as a consequence of higher variability in flow regime (higher flashiness). Contrarily, we found a higher contribution of dissolved P in flashy streams. We did not find a notably poorer performance of the low-frequency sampling program to estimate P exports in flashy streams compared to the less variable streams. We also found signs of interaction between climate/hydrology and land use intensity, in particular in the presence of point sources of P, leading to a bias towards underestimation of P in hydrologically stable streams and overestimation of P in flashy streams. Based on our findings, we suggest that the evaluation and use of more accurate monitoring methods, such as automatized flow-proportional water samplers and automatized bankside analyzers, should be prioritized whenever logistically possible. However, it seems particularly relevant in currently flashy systems and also in systems where climate change predictions suggest an increase in stream flashiness

    Fish composition and species richness in eastern South American coastal lagoons: additional support for the freshwater ecoregions of the world

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    The relationships between fish composition, connectivity and morphometry of 103 lagoons in nine freshwater ecoregions (FEOW) between 2·83° S and 37·64° S were evaluated in order to detect possible congruence between the gradient of species richness and similarities of assemblage composition. Most lagoons included in the study were <2 km(2) , with a maximum of 3975 km(2) in surface area. Combined surface area of all lagoons included in the study was 5411 km(2) . Number of species varied locally from one to 76. A multiple regression revealed that latitude, attributes of morphometry and connectivity, and sampling effort explained a large amount of variability in species richness. Lagoon area was a good predictor of species richness except in low latitude ecoregions, where lagoons are typically small-sized and not affected by marine immigrants, and where non-native fish species accounted for a significant portion of species richness. Relationships between species and area in small-sized lagoons (<2 km(2) ) is highly similar to the expected number in each ecoregion, with systems located between 18·27° S and 30·15° S attaining higher levels of species richness. Similarities in species composition within the primary, secondary and peripheral or marine divisions revealed strong continental biogeographic patterns only for species less tolerant or intolerant to salinity. Further support for the FEOW scheme in the eastern border of South America is therefore provided, and now includes ecotonal systems inhabited simultaneously by freshwater and marine species of fishes.Fil: Petry, A. C.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Guimarães, T. F. R.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Vasconcelos, F. M. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Hartz, S. M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Becker, F. G.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Rosa, R. S.. Universidade Federal da Paraíba; BrasilFil: Goyenola, G.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Caramaschi, E. P.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Díaz de Astarloa, Juan Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Sarmento Soares, L. M.. Instituto Nacional da Mata Atlântica; BrasilFil: Vieira, J. P.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande; BrasilFil: García, A. M.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande; BrasilFil: Teixeira de Mello, Franco. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: de Mello, F. T.. Universidade Federal Do Piaui.; BrasilFil: Meerhoff, M.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Attayde, J. L.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: Menezes, R. Fernandes de. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: Mazzeo, N.. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Di Dario F.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi
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