Biogenic Fenton process - A possible mechanism for the mineralization of organic carbon in fresh waters

To explore the mechanisms that mineralize poorly bioavailable natural organic carbon (OC), we measured the mineralization of OC in two lake waters over long-term experiments (up to 623 days) at different pH and iron (Fe) levels. Both the microbial and photochemical mineralization of OC was higher at pH acidified to 4 than at the ambient pH 5 or an elevated pH 6. During 244 days, microbes mineralized up to 60% of OC in the 10-mu m filtrates of lake water and more than 27% in the 1-mu m filtrates indicating that large-sized microbes/grazers enhance the mineralization of OC. A reactivity continuum model indicated that the acidification stimulated the microbial mineralization of OC especially in the later (> weeks) phases of experiment when the bioavailability of OC was poor. The reactive oxygen species produced by light or microbial metabolism could have contributed to the mineralization of poorly bioavailable OC through photochemical and biogenic Fenton processes catalyzed by the indigenous Fe in lake water. When Fe was introduced to artificial lake water to the concentration found in the study lakes, it increased the densities of bacteria growing on solid phase extracted dissolved organic matter and in a larger extent at low pH 4 than at pH 5. Our results suggest that in addition to the photochemical Fenton process (photo-Fenton), microbes can transfer poorly bioavailable OC into labile forms and CO2 through extracellular Fe-catalyzed reactions (i.e., biogenic Fenton process). (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Wideband Dual-Polarized Cross-Shaped Vivaldi Antenna

This communication presents a wideband, dual-polarized Vivaldi antenna or tapered slot antenna with over a decade (10.7:1) of bandwidth. The dual-polarized antenna structure is achieved by inserting two orthogonal Vivaldi antennas in a cross-shaped form without a galvanic contact. The measured - 10,\hbox {dB} impedance bandwidth ( {S_{11}} ) is approximately from 0.7 up to 7.30 GHz, corresponding to a 166% relative frequency bandwidth. The isolation ( {S_{21}} ) between the antenna ports is better than 30 dB, and the measured maximum gain is 3.8 11.2 dB at the aforementioned frequency bandwidth. Orthogonal polarizations have the same maximum gain within the 0.7 3.6 GHz band, and a slight variation up from 3.6 GHz. The cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) is better than 19 dB across the measured 0.7 6.0 GHz frequency bandwidth, and better than 25 dB up to 4.5 GHz. The measured results are compared with the numerical ones in terms of S -parameters, maximum gain, and XPD.The authors would like to thank Dr. T. Brown from University of Surrey for proofreading the manuscript, and the anonymous reviewers for the dedicated work to help improve this paper. They would also like to thank T. Jaasko from Pulse Finland for performing the Vivaldi prototype antenna measurements. M. Sonkki would like to thank the Nokia Foundation and Infotech Oulu Doctoral Program for financially supporting his Ph.D. studies. This technology has been licensed by industry.Sonkki, M.; Sánchez Escuderos, D.; Hovinen, V.; Salonen, E.; Ferrando Bataller, M. (2015). Wideband Dual-Polarized Cross-Shaped Vivaldi Antenna. IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. 63(6):2813-2819. doi:10.1109/TAP.2015.2415521S2813281963

Arresting bubble coarsening: A two-bubble experiment to investigate grain growth in presence of surface elasticity

Many two-phase materials suffer from grain-growth due to the energy cost which is associated with the interface that separates both phases. While our understanding of the driving forces and the dynamics of grain growth in different materials is well advanced by now, current research efforts address the question of how this process may be slowed down, or, ideally, arrested. We use a model system of two bubbles to explore how the presence of a finite surface elasticity may interfere with the coarsening process and the final grain size distribution. Combining experiments and modelling in the analysis of the evolution of two bubbles, we show that clear relationships can be predicted between the surface tension, the surface elasticity and the initial/final size ratio of the bubbles. We rationalise these relationships by the introduction of a modified Gibbs criterion. Besides their general interest, the present results have direct implications for our understanding of foam stability

Merging solution processing and printing for sustainable fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaics

The targeted global decarbonization demands the urgent replacement of conventional fossil fuel with low carbon technologies. For instance, solar energy is abundant, inexhaustible, non-polluting, and low-priced; however, to produce energy on a large scale with reliable, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly methods remains a challenge. The outstanding optical properties of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film photovoltaics and their intrinsic compatibility with industrial-scale production are paving the way towards this technology. However, most of the activity in the field relies on the use of non-environmentally friendly methodologies to achieve solution-processed flexible and lightweight photovoltaics with significant efficiencies. Importantly, there is a search for more sustainable alternatives that are compatible with roll-to-roll industry to improve the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of photovoltaics without compromising the photovoltaic performance. Herein, we review cost-efficient and sustainable fabrication methodologies that complement the current high- energy-demanding vacuum-based fabrication of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaics. The existent non-vacuum deposition methods of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photoabsorbers are presented and precursors and solvents used in ink formulations are discussed in terms of sustainability. The approaches resulting in most efficient photovoltaic cells are highlighted. Finally, all-solution-processed Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaics are reviewed, along with the non-vacuum deposition methods of the individual layers, contributing to an even higher throughput and low-cost production. This review highlights the relevance and potential of sustainable non-vacuum methodologies, as well as the need of further investigation in this field to ultimately give access to high-end CIGS PVs with low-cost fabrication.We thank the members of the Nanochemistry Research Group (http://nanochemgroup.org) at INL for insightful discussions and support. This study was conducted with financial support from the Portuguese funding institution FCT – Fundaç ̃ao para Ciˆencia e Tecnologia (PTDC/CTM-ENE/5387/2014, PTDC/NAN-MAT/28745/2017, UID/FIS/04650/2020, UID/QUI/0686/2020, PTDC/FIS-MAC/28157/2017 and SFRH/BD/121780/2016) and Basque Government Industry Department (ELKARTEK and HAZITEK)

Amine-modified hyaluronic acid-functionalized porous silicon nanoparticles for targeting breast cancer tumors

Peer reviewe

Bundling up carbon nanotubes through Wigner defects

We show, using ab initio total energy density functional theory, that the so-called Wigner defects, an interstitial carbon atom right besides a vacancy, which are present in irradiated graphite can also exist in bundles of carbon nanotubes. Due to the geometrical structure of a nanotube, however, this defect has a rather low formation energy, lower than the vacancy itself, suggesting that it may be one of the most important defects that are created after electron or ion irradiation. Moreover, they form a strong link between the nanotubes in bundles, increasing their shear modulus by a sizeable amount, clearly indicating its importance for the mechanical properties of nanotube bundles.Comment: 5 pages and 4 figure

Variability of the Spectral Energy Distribution of the Blazar S5 0716+714

The emission from blazars is known to be variable at all wavelengths. The flux variability is often accompanied by spectral changes. Spectral energy distribution (SED) changes must be associated with changes in the spectra of emitting electrons and/or the physical parameters of the jet. Meaningful modeling of blazar broadband spectra is required to understand the extreme conditions within the emission region. Not only is the broadband SED crucial, but also information about its variability is needed to understand how the highest states of emission occur and how they differ from the low states. This may help in discriminating between models. Here we present the results of our SED modeling of the blazar S5 0716+714 during various phases of its activity. The SEDs are classified into different bins depending on the optical brightness state of the source.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, contributed talk presented at the conference Multifrequency Variability of Blazars, Guangzhou, China, September 22-24, 2010. To appear in Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy (JAA

Plucking enhanced beneath ice sheet margins: evidence from the Grampian Mountains, Scotland

Concentrations of boulders are a common feature of landscapes modified by former mid-latitude ice sheets. In many cases, the origin of the boulders can be traced in the up-ice direction to a cliff only tens to hundreds of metres distant. The implication is that a pulse of plucking and short boulder transport occurred beneath thin ice at the end of the last glacial cycle. Here we use a case study in granite bedrock in the Dee Valley, Scotland, to constrain theory and explore the factors involved in such a late phase of plucking. Plucking is influenced by ice velocity, hydrology, effective ice pressure, the extent of subglacial cavities and bedrock characteristics. The balance between these factors favours block removal beneath thin ice near a glacier margin. At Ripe Hill in the Dee Valley, a mean exposure age of 14.2 ka on blocks supports the view that the boulder train formed at the end of ice sheet glaciation. The late pulse of plucking was further enhanced by ice flowing obliquely across vertical joints and by fluctuations in sub-marginal meltwater conditions. An implication of the study is that there is the potential for a wave of ice-marginal plucking to sweep across a landscape as an ice sheet retreats

Synaptic and Fast Switching Memristance in Porous Silicon-Based Structures

Memristors are two terminal electronic components whose conductance depends on the amount of charge that has flown across them over time. This dependence can be gradual, such as in synaptic memristors, or abrupt, as in resistive switching memristors. Either of these memory effects are very promising for the development of a whole new generation of electronic devices. For the successful implementation of practical memristors, however, the development of low cost industry compatible memristive materials is required. Here the memristive properties of differently processed porous silicon structures are presented, which are suitable for different applications. Electrical characterization and SPICE simulations show that laser-carbonized porous silicon shows a strong synaptic memristive behavior influenced by defect diffusion, while wet-oxidized porous silicon has strong resistance switching properties, with switching ratios over 8000. Results show that practical memristors of either type can be achieved with porous silicon whose memristive properties can be adjusted by the proper material processing. Thus, porous silicon may play an important role for the successful realization of practical memristorics with cost-effective materials and processes