Preparation of highly visible-light active N-doped TiO₂ photocatalyst

A series of N-doped anatase TiO2 samples have been prepared using a solvothermal method in an organic amine/ethanol–water reaction system. The effects of different starting N:Ti atomic ratios on the catalysts structure, surface property and catalytic activity have been investigated. The photocatalytic activity and stability of the N-doped TiO2 samples were evaluated through using the decomposition of Methylene blue (MB) and Methyl orange (MO) as model reaction under visible light irradiation. Characterization results show that the nitrogen dopant has a significant effect on the crystallite size and optical absorption of TiO2. It was found that the N-doped TiO2 catalysts have enhanced absorption in the visible light region, and exhibit higher activity for photocatalytic degradation of model dyes (e.g. MB and MO). The catalyst with the highest performance was the one prepared using N:Ti molar ratio of 1.0. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurement suggests the materials contain Ti3+ ions, with both the degree of N doping and oxygen vacancies make contributions to the visible light absorption of TON. The presence of superoxide radicals (O•-) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) on the surface of TON were found to be responsible for MB and MO solution decoloration under visible light. Based on the results of the present study, a visible light induced photocatalytic mechanism has been proposed for N-doped anatase TiO2

Two-gap superconductivity in LaNiGa2_2 with nonunitary triplet pairing and even parity gap symmetry

The nature of the pairing states of superconducting LaNiC$_2$ and LaNiGa$_2$ has to date remained a puzzling question. Broken time reversal symmetry has been observed in both compounds and a group theoretical analysis implies a non-unitary triplet pairing state. However all the allowed non-unitary triplet states have nodal gap functions but most thermodynamic and NMR measurements indicate fully gapped superconductivity in LaNiC$_2$. Here we probe the gap symmetry of LaNiGa$_2$ by measuring the London penetration depth, specific heat and upper critical field. These measurements demonstrate two-gap nodeless superconductivity in LaNiGa$_2$, suggesting that this is a common feature of both compounds. These results allow us to propose a novel triplet superconducting state, where the pairing occurs between electrons of the same spin, but on different orbitals. In this case the superconducting wavefunction has a triplet spin component but isotropic even parity gap symmetry, yet the overall wavefunction remains antisymmetric under particle exchange. This model leads to a nodeless two-gap superconducting state which breaks time reversal symmetry, and therefore accounts well for the seemingly contradictory experimental results

Spectral selectivity of unbalanced magnetron sputtered TiN, TiAlN and TiAlSiN coatings: XRD, SEM and optical analyses

The photothermal industries require high quality and highly efficient solar selective coatings for the surface of solar energy converters. An efficient selective surface has high absorptance in the visible range and low emittance in the infrared~far-infrared range of the solar spectrum. The low emittance (or high reflectance) of such coatings would significantly reduce energy loss through infrared radiation

Zitterbewegung in External Magnetic Field: Classic versus Quantum Approach

We investigate variations of the Zitterbewegung frequency of electron due to an external static and uniform magnetic field employing the expectation value quantum approach, and compare our results with the classical model of spinning particles. We demonstrate that these two so far compatible approaches are not in agreement in the presence of an external uniform static magnetic field, in which the classical approach breaks the usual symmetry of free particles and antiparticles states, i.e. it leads to CP violation. Hence, regarding the Zitterbewegung frequency of electron, the classical approach in the presence of an external magnetic field is unlikely to correctly describe the spin of electron, while the quantum approach does, as expected. We also show that the results obtained via the expectation value are in close agreement with the quantum approach of the Heisenberg picture derived in the literature. However, the method we use is capable of being compared with the classical approach regarding the spin aspects. The classical interpretation of spin produced by the altered Zitterbewegung frequency, in the presence of an external magnetic field, are discussed.Comment: 16 pages, no figure

Comparison of microstructures and mechanical properties of a Cu–Ag alloy processed using different severe plastic deformation modes

A Cu–8 wt.% Ag alloy was processed by equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP), dynamic plastic deformation (DPD) and high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature, and the microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated. It is shown that the microstructures of the Cu–Ag alloy can be refined to different levels by these severe plastic deformation (SPD) modes with the smallest grains produced by HPT. The results provide a clear demonstration that the yield strength and microhardness are inter-related over a wide range of value