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Highly Visible-Light-Photoactive Heterojunction Based on TiO2 Nanotubes Decorated by Pt Nanoparticles and Bi2S3 Quantum Dots
PublicationA heterojunction with excellent visible light response and stability based on titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2 NTs), bismuth sulfide quantum dots (Bi2S3 QDs), and platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) is proposed. Both Pt NPs (3.0 ± 0.2 nm) and Bi2S3 QDs (3.50 ± 0.20 nm) are well distributed on the (i) top parts, (ii) inner walls, and (iii) outer walls of the TiO2 NTs. Visible-light-induced photoreaction was initialized by excitation...
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Mechanical Properties of Twisted Carbon Nanotube Bundles with Carbon Linkers from Molecular Dynamics Simulations
PublicationThe manufacturing of high-modulus, high-strength fibers is of paramount importance for real-world, high-end applications. In this respect, carbon nanotubes represent the ideal candidates for realizing such fibers. However, their remarkable mechanical performance is difficult to bring up to the macroscale, due to the low load transfer within the fiber. A strategy to increase such load transfer is the introduction of chemical linkers...
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Photovoltaic-Installation Performance in Central Europe on the Example of Poland
PublicationThe amount of the electric energy obtained from a photovoltaic (PV) installation depends on the energy of the radiation. Weather conditions differ strongly between various years even in the same season. Depending on the climatic conditions of a given location, fixed PV solar plants as well as one-axis and dual-axis tracking PV solar plants are being installed worldwide. The aim of this work is to analyse the sunlight intensity...
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New approaches for improving selectivity and sensitivity of resistive gas sensors: a review
PublicationPurpose – This paper aims to present the methods of improving selectivity and sensitivity of resistance gas sensors. Design/methodology/approach – This paper compares various methods of improving gas sensing by temperature modulation, UV irradiation or fluctuation-enhanced sensing. The authors analyze low-frequency resistance fluctuations in commercial Taguchi gas sensors and the recently developed tungsten trioxide (WO3) gas-sensing...
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Acoustic Sensing Analytics Applied to Speech in Reverberation Conditions
PublicationThe paper aims to discuss a case study of sensing analytics and technology in acoustics when applied to reverberation conditions. Reverberation is one of the issues that makes speech in indoor spaces challenging to understand. This problem is particularly critical in large spaces with few absorbing or diffusing surfaces. One of the natural remedies to improve speech intelligibility in such conditions may be achieved through speaking...
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Modeling of low calorific gas burning in a deficient oxygen environment and high-temperature oxidizer
PublicationThe experimental research will be performed using the experimental facility with a combustion chamber. The oxygen concentration in combustion oxidizers will be varied from 21% by volume (normal) air to 2%. The test combustion chamber will be fed with propane or methane as the reference fuel, then with low calorific fuels as test gases obtained by mixing various combustible components, e.g. H2, CH4, CO, and neutral gases, e.g. N2,...
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Mutagenic and Carcinogenic Compounds in Food
PublicationFood is a major environmental human cancer risk factor. One of the reasons for this is that food products contain substances that exhibit mutagenic and carcinogenic potential which may induce the transformation of normal somatic cells into cancerous cells. These compounds occur in food as a result of microbial contaminations (mycotoxins produced by molds), are generated from natural food components upon processing (e.g. heterocyclic...
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Granulometric characterization of Arctic driftwood sawdust from frame sawing process
PublicationArctic driftwood can be used as an alternative source of wood as construction timber and furniture material, especially in Iceland and Greenland. The use of Arctic driftwood can help in the fight against climate change, by developing land reforestation processes and reducing the volume harvested wood from forests and sustainability of harvesting processes. In this paper the results of an analysis of the effect of long-term residence...
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Cancer-selective, single agent chemoradiosensitising gold nanoparticles
PublicationTwo nanometre gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), bearing sugar moieties and/or thiol-polyethylene glycol-amine (PEG-amine), were synthesised and evaluated for their in vitro toxicity and ability to radiosensitise cells with 220 kV and 6 MV X-rays, using four cell lines representing normal and cancerous skin and breast tissues. Acute 3 h exposure of cells to AuNPs, bearing PEG-amine only or a 50:50 ratio of alpha-galactose derivative and...
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Localization and Orientation of Xanthophylls in a Lipid Bilayer
PublicationXanthophylls (polar carotenoids) play diverse biological roles, among which are modulation of the physical properties of lipid membranes and protection of biomembranes against oxidative damage. Molecular mechanisms underlying these functions are intimately related to the localization and orientation of xanthophyll molecules in lipid membranes. In the present work, we address the problem of localization and orientation of two xanthophylls...
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Assessment of metal removal in a surface flow constructed wetland treating landfill leachate
PublicationThe study concerns heavy metal retention and transformation processes in a free water surface constructed wetland treating landfill leachate in a temperate climate. The total effectiveness of heavy metals removal in the analyzed CW was evaluated basing on heavy metals inflow and outflow concentrations. The concentrations of eight heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Cd) in landfill leachate (LL) and sediments were measured....
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Research on the separation properties of empty-column gas chromatography (EC-GC) and conditions for simulated distillation (SIMDIS)
PublicationThe paper presents the results of investigations on new procedures of determination of selected cleaning additives in diesel fuel. Two procedures: one-step analysis using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) or mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and a two-step procedure in which normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) was used for preliminary separation of the additives, were compared. The additive...
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Separation of the effects of notch and macro residual stress on the MFL signal characteristics
PublicationMagnetic flux leakage (MFL) distribution for three configurations of samples has been investigated in order to study the influence of notch and plastic deformation separately as well as together. Samples have been made of S355 steel. The MFL signal measurements were carried out along the longest dimension of the sample over a length of 120 mm. Two components of magnetic field were measured: 1) tangential to the main axis and 2)...
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SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTION OF MUSIC GENRES IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
PublicationThe aim of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between perception of music genres and subjective features of music that can be assigned to them. For this purpose a group of subjective features such as loudness, melody, rhythm, volume, instrumentation was chosen to describe music genres. A group of 30 listeners with normal hearing, ranging from 20 to 40, was created. Each sub-ject participating in listening tests was asked...
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Color-based Detection of Bleeding in Endoscopic Images
PublicationIn this paper a color descriptor designed for bleeding detection in endoscopic images is proposed. The development of the algorithm was carried out on a representative training set of 36 images of bleeding and 25 clear images. Another 38 bleeding and 26 normal images were used in the final stage as a test set. All of the considered images were extracted from separate endoscopic examinations. The experiments include color distribution...
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Influence of low-temperature physical hardening on stiffness and tensile strength of asphalt concrete and stone mastic asphalt
PublicationThis paper presents laboratory testing of stiffness modulus and indirect tensile strength of three asphalt concrete (AC) and three stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixes after isothermal storage at temperature of -20oC, at different time intervals up to 16 days. The tests under repeated dynamic loading showed physical hardening of all tested mixes which was manifested by an evident increase of their stiffness moduli after isothermal...
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Reduction of road traffic noise by source measures — present and future strategies
PublicationThe current trend worldwide is less focused on reducing road traffic noise. This is in strong contrast to the severe impact of traffic noise to the general health and quality of life. A more holistic and combined strategy is needed. Current international rules and regulations regarding vehicles and tyres are not sufficient to reduce traffic noise levels in an effective way. Calculations show that these regulations will only yield...
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NON-LINE ANALYSIS OF STIFFNESS IN COMPRESSION CONDITIONS
PublicationThe analyzes were aimed at demonstrating the influence of parameters describing the deformation of the structure on the uncertainty of critical force, and the impact of technological imperfections on stress uncertainty in compression conditions. In a linear buckling analysis, the problem is considered only for the initial, permanent state of the stiffness matrix. In the case of demonstrating the influence of initial deformations...
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SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTION OF MUSIC GENRES IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
PublicationThe aim of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between perception of music genres and subjective features of music that can be assigned to them. For this purpose a group of subjective features such as loudness, melody, rhythm, volume, instrumentation was chosen to describe music genres. A group of 30 listeners with normal hearing, ranging from 20 to 40, was created. Each sub-ject participating in listening tests was asked...
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EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF CONCRETE BEHAVIOUR AT MESO-LEVEL DURING QUASI-STATIC SPLITTING TENSION
PublicationThe paper describes experimental and numerical results of quasi-static splitting tensile tests on concrete specimens at meso-scale level. The loading strip was made of plywood or steel. Fracture in concrete was detected at the aggregate level by means of three non-destructive methods: 3D x-ray micro-computed tomography, 2D scanning electron microscope and manual 2D digital microscope. The discrete element method was used to directly...
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Micro-modelling of shear localization during quasi-static confined granular flow in silos using DEM
PublicationThe paper deals with the quasi-static confined flow of cohesionless sand in a plane strain model silo with parallel walls and a slowly movable bottom. Numerical modelling was carried out by the discrete element method (DEM) using spheres with contact moments to approximately capture a non-uniform shape of sand particles. Different initial void ratios of sand and silo wall roughness grades were employed. Regular triangular grooves...
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Immunoanalityka – użyteczne podejście analityczne w badaniach środowiska
PublicationWażnym krokiem w rozwoju bezpośrednich metodyk analitycznych było opracowanie technik immunoanalitycznych. Początkowo znalazły one zastosowanie praktyczne w analityce medycznej a później także w analityce środowiskowej. Dzięki temu możliwe jest ilościowe oznaczenie stosunkowo szerokiego spektrum ksenobiotyków w próbkach charakteryzujących się złożonym składem matrycy bez praco- i czasochłonnego etapu przygotowania tych próbek do...
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Spectral Methods for Modelling of Wave Propagation in Structures in Terms of Damage Detection—A Review
PublicationModern methods of detection and identification of structural damage direct the activities of scientific groups towards the improvement of diagnostic methods using for example the phenomenon of mechanical wave propagation. Damage detection methods that use mechanical wave propagation in structural components are extremely effective. Many different numerical approaches are used to model this phenomenon, but, due to their universal...
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Lithuania inland waterways links to Western Europe inland waterways network
PublicationLithuania Inland waterways now mainly are used for transportation and tourism within Lithuania tertitory. In the same time difficulties crossing Kaliningrad region and direct Lithuania inland Waterways Buks with Western Europe inland waterway system nowadays are impossible, depending on Russia inland Waterways regulation. New ideas and possibilities of linking Lithuania inland Waterways witki Western Europe inland waterways system...
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Dynamic variables limitation for backstepping control of induction machine and voltage source converter
PublicationDynamic variables limitation for backstepping control of induction machine and voltage source converter The paper presents the method of control of an induction squirrel-cage machine supplied by a voltage source converter. The presented idea is based on an innovative method of the voltage source converter control, consisting in direct joining of the motor control system with the voltage source rectifier control system. The combined...
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Trawl-Door Shape Optimization with 3D CFD Models and Local Surrogates
PublicationDesign and optimization of trawl-doors are key factors in minimizing the fuel consumption of fishing vessels. This paper discusses optimization of the trawl-door shapes using high-fidelity 3D computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models. The accurate 3D CFD models are computationally expensive and, therefore, the direct use of traditional optimization algorithms, which often require a large number of evaluations, may be prohibitive....
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Measurement and visualization of sound intensity vector distribution in proximity of acoustic diffusers
PublicationIn this work, we would like to present analyses and visualizations of sound intensity distribution measured in proximity of an acoustic diffuser. Such distribution may be used for estimation of basic acoustic parameters of a diffuser. Measurement is performed with the use of a logarithmic sine sweep which allows for the analysis of waves scattered by the diffuser and rejecting the direct sound signal component. Pressure and sound...
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Fast multi-criterial statistical analysis and design optimization of compact microwave couplers
Publication—A rapid statistical analysis and yield estimation of compact microwave couplers involving multiple performance parameters has been presented. The analysis is realized using a fast surrogate model representing appropriate characteristic points of the coupler response. Because of less nonlinear dependence of the characteristic points on the structure geometry (compared to the original response, i.e., S-parameters vs. frequency),...
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Optymalizacja topologiczna części lotniczych
PublicationOstatnie 40 lat to ciągły rozwój przemysłu lotniczego, dzięki któremu możliwe jest wykonywanie bezpiecznych, szybkich oraz ekonomicznych lotów. Projektowanie i budowa nowoczesnych samolotów wymaga jednak wykorzystywania wysoko rozwiniętych metod oraz technologii, dzięki którym możliwe jest sprostanie stawianym przed nimi wymaganiom. EADS Innovation Works, jako organizacja badawczo-technologiczna, jest zaangażowana w rozwój oraz...
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Determination of p-y curves for offshore piles based on in-situ soil investigations
PublicationOffshore piles are subjected to complex loads with considerable lateral component. The pile-soil response to lateral loads can be described with the p-y method. For a given depth the load–deflection relationship is built to simulate the surrounding soil stiffness. This state-of-art paper presents a brief discussion of determination methods for the p-y curves using a standard approach based on the soil parameters derived from laboratory...
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Logistics aspects in the group of health care accreditation standards associated with patient nutrition
PublicationMedical services are currently one of the more popular branches of the service sector, both in Poland and worldwide. Along with direct impact on human health and life, they have influence on the necessity of constant search for forms of their improvement. Actions taken for improvement of health services quality are implemented with diversity, both as an obligatory action imposed in all medical services units, as well as, actions...
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Reliable underwater communication system for shallow coastal waters
PublicationThis paper presents a reliable and robust low data rate spread spectrum approach which is implemented in the acoustic underwater communication system for shallow coastal waters. It shows operation assumptions of spread spectrum techniques based on the wellknown Shannon equation. It describes two methods of spread spectrum: frequency hopping spread spectrum and direct sequence spread spectrum; their block diagram and their characteristics...
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Kwadraturowy DDS z ułamkowo-opóźniającym filtrem o strukturze flash-Farrow.
PublicationW pracy omawiamy nieliniowy algorytm cyfrowego generatora z syntezą bezpośrednią, zwanego krótko DDS od ang. Direct Digital Synthesizer. Proponujemy nowy algorytm kwadraturowego DDS. Pozwala on osiągnąć zarówno wysoki stopień czystości generowanej sinusoidy kwadraturowej, jak i bardzo małe błędy modulacji częstotliwości (FM) przy małej pojemności pamięci ROM, od której zależy pobór mocy zasilania. Ponadto proponujemy nowe podejście...
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The Action Mechanisms, Anti-Cancer and Antibiotic-Modulation Potential of Vaccinium myrtillus L. Extract
PublicationHerbal medicinal products containing Vaccinium myrtillus L. (bilberry) fruits and fruit extracts are widely available in the market. Although bilberry leaves and stems are considered as bio-waste, they contain much higher levels of phenolic compounds than fruits. The study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anticancer potential of aerial part extracts from Vaccinium myrtillus L. (V. myrtillus, VM) plants harvested at high...
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In silico design of telomerase inhibitors.
PublicationTelomerase is a reverse transcriptase enzyme involved in DNA synthesis at the end of linear chromosomes. Unlike in most other cells, telomerase is reactivated most cancerous cells and, therefore, has become a promising new anticancer target. Despite extensive research, direct telomerase inhibitors have yet not been introduced to the clinics because of the complexity of this enzyme. Structures of this protein from simple organisms...
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Allergic reactions as a defense of the organism to the influence of implants components made of stainless steel
PublicationDue to the increasing number of cases of hypersensitivity caused by direct contact with metals, as well as the increasing demand for implants in humans all ages numerous studies on the effects of the impact of implant components are being carried out. The paper presents the phenomenon of etiology of allergy in general terms and in relation to the biomaterials used in medicine. There have been characterized in terms of impact on...
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Bunker demolition located in a conservation protection zone in the light of technical, national defense, functional-utility and economic conditions
PublicationThe paper presents a description of the technical condition of the Bunker building located at the port quay, which has been out of use for several decades. The direct reason for the cessation of exploitation was the deletion of Bunker from the Civil Defense records. The paper contains a detailed analysis of the Bunker's technical condition, also taking into account the national defense, functional and utility aspects and the issues...
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Fe local structure in Pt-free nitrogen-modified carbon based electrocatalysts: XAFS study
PublicationThe paper presents a new results on the bonding environment (coordination number and geometry) and on oxidation states of Fe in nitrogen-modified Fe/C composites used as Pt-free catalysts for oxygen reduction in Direct Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Starting from glucose or fructose, two catalysts displaying different electrochemical performance were prepared and studied in the form of pristine powder and thin catalytic layer of electrode...
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First Outcomes of an Investigation about Daylighting Knowledge and Education in Europe
PublicationDAYKE (Daylighting Knowledge in Europe) is a project to investigate the daylighting knowledge and skills of Architecture students and practitioners from different countries within the European Union. This paper introduces the first stage of the research and provides results from a direct survey taken by 161 students from seven schools of Architecture: two in Italy, one in The Netherlands, two in Poland and two in Spain. The results...
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WATER LUBRICATED MAIN SHAFT BEARINGS - MODERN SOLUTION FOR HYDROPOWER INDUSTRY - Experimental and theoretical studies
PublicationWater-lubricated bearings are finding increasingly wide use in various branches of industry. As such, they may also be encountered in hydro power industry. They are also increasingly frequently employed in bearing systems of marine shaft propulsions and water pumps [1]. This rising popularity is due to a number of reasons [2]. First of all, their simple construction has direct impact on the level of pricing which is usually quite...
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Impedance of cation-coupled electron transfer reaction: Theoretical description of one pathway process
PublicationIt has been assumed that cation electron coupled charge transfer can be conducted in accordance with two mutually coupled reactions. Using a differential method an expression was introduced which describes the impedance of a cation electron coupled transfer reaction. Also, an electrical equivalent circuit has been defined. The total faradaic impedance is the sum of electron transfer impedance and cation transfer impedance. Issues...
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Allergic Reactions as a Defense of the Organism to the Influence of Implants Components Made of Stainless Steel
PublicationDue to the increasing number of cases of hypersensitivity caused by direct contact with metals, as well as the increasing demand for implants in humans all ages numerous studies on the effects of the impact of implant components are being carried out. The paper presents the phenomenon of etiology of allergy in general terms and in relation to the biomaterials used in medicine. There have been characterized in terms of impact on...
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Spectacular Oxygen Evolution Reaction Enhancement Through Laser Processing of the Nickel-Decorated Titania Nanotubes
PublicationThe selective, laser-induced modification of the nickel-decorated titania nanotubes provides remarkable enhancement toward oxygen evolution reaction. Particularly, the irradiation of the laterally spaced crystalline TiO2 nanotubes, results in the formation of the tight closure over irradiated end, preserving their hollow interior. The shape of the absorbance spectra is modulated along with applied energy, and the new absorption...
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NOx Photooxidation over Different Noble Metals Modified TiO2
PublicationWe compared the activity enhancement effect of noble metal deposited on TiO2 in photocatalytic nitrogen oxides oxidation. Titanium dioxide was decorated with Ag, Au, Pt or Pd in the sol-gel process. Synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurement (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX)....
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Spectacular Oxygen Evolution Reaction Enhancement through Laser Processing of the Nickel‐Decorated Titania Nanotubes
PublicationThe selective, laser‐induced modification of the nickel‐decorated titania nanotubes provides remarkable enhancement toward oxygen evolution reaction. Particularly, the irradiation of the laterally spaced crystalline TiO2 nanotubes, results in the formation of the tight closure over irradiated end, preserving their hollow interior. The shape of the absorbance spectra is modulated along with applied energy, and the new absorption...
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The Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Chitosan-Based Materials Modified with Phenolic Acids Irradiated by UVC Light
PublicationThis paper concerns the physicochemical properties of chitosan/phenolic acid thin films irradiated by ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 290 nm (UVC) light. We investigated the preparation and characterization of thin films based on chitosan (CTS) with tannic (TA), caffeic (CA) and ferulic acid (FA) addition as potential food‐packaging materials. Such materials were then exposed to the UVC light (254 nm) for...
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Experimental and DFT insights into an eco-friendly photocatalytic system toward environmental remediation and hydrogen generation based on AgInS2 quantum dots embedded on Bi2WO6
PublicationBismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) can work as a photocatalyst but suffers from rapid recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) simulations revealed that the formation of a thermodynamically stable AgInS2(112)/Bi2WO6(010) heterojunction could promote charge separation and enhance the photoactivity of Bi2WO6. To confirm these theoretical predictions, a new type of photocatalysts in the form...
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Preparation and characterization of monometallic (Au) and bimetallic (Ag/Au) modified-titania photocatalysts activated by visible light
PublicationThe Au-TiO2 and Ag/Au-TiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared using a water-in-oil microemulsion system of water/AOT/cyclohexane and water/Triton X-100/cyclohexane. The obtained photocatalysts were subsequently characterized by a BET method, DRS spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy (XPS), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD). For gold-doped titanium (IV) oxide...
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Preparation and characterization of Pt–N/TiO2 photocatalysts and their efficiency in degradation of recalcitrant chemicals
PublicationSeries of Pt–N/TiO2 photocatalysts were synthesized using the sol–gel method. The photocatalysts’ characteristics by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that sample with the molar ratio Ti:N equal 1:4 and platinum nanoparticles size of about 3 nm had anatase structure, about 94 m2/g specific surface area...
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Synthesis and hydrogen evolving catalysis of a panchromatic photochemical molecular device
PublicationA dinuclear hydrogen evolution photocatalyst [(tbbpy)2Os(tpphz)PtI2](PF6)2 (tbbpy = 4,4′-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine; tpphz = tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c:2′′,3′′-h:2′′′,3′′′-j]phenazine) is synthesized in order to make use of the broader range of visible light absorption mitigated by the osmium center. In a first step, the activity of the complex for hydrogen evolution is investigated by evaluating the role of different electron donors...