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Porous Phantoms Mimicking Tissues—Investigation of Optical Parameters Stability Over Time
PublikacjaOptical phantoms are used to validate optical measurement methods. The stability of their optical parameters over time allows them to be used and stored over long-term periods, while maintaining their optical parameters. The aim of the presented research was to investigate the stability of fabricated porous phantoms, which can be used as a lung phantom in optical system. Measurements were performed in multiple series with an interval...
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Structure of partially reduced xPbO (1-x)SiO2 glasses: combined EXAFS and MD study
PublikacjaWykorzystując połączenie metody EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption finestructure) i symulacji MD (molecular dynamics) zbadano strukturęczęściowo zredukowanych szkieł ołowiowo-krzemianowych o różnejstechiometrii wyjściowej. W wyniku analizy uzyskano szczegółowyopis struktury lokalnej wokół atomów ołowiu i jej zmiany w funkcjiskładu szkła i poziomu redukcji. Określono również jaką tendencjędo aglomeracji w metaliczne klastry wykazują...
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Investigation of photothermolysis therapy of human skin diseases using optical phantoms
PublikacjaDermatological diseases, such as neurofibroma (Recklinghausen disease) or hemangiomas can be efficiently treated using photothermolysis from laser irradiation. We have utilized a developed 975 nm fiber diode laser as a low-cost alternative over common Nd:YAG lasers. This paper describes the investigations of interaction of 975 nm diode laser radiation-pulses with optical skin phantoms which were designed and manufactured in our...
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Optimization of Hydrogen - Evolving Photochemical Molecular Devices
PublikacjaA molecular photocatalyst consisting of a RuII photocenter, a tetrapyridophenazine bridging ligand, and a PtX2 (X=Cl or I) moiety as the catalytic center functions as a stable system for light-driven hydrogen production. The catalytic activity of this photochemical molecular device (PMD) is significantly enhanced by exchanging the terminal chlorides at the Pt center for iodide ligands. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy...
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Pr-doped TiO2: The effect of metal content on photocatalytic activity
PublikacjaThe Pr-TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by using the sol-gel method. As-prepared samples were characterized by BET measurements, X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD) and UV-Vis spectra. Visible and ultraviolet light photocatalytic activity of the sample was studied by photodegradation of phenol while considering the influence of the dopant concentration. TiO2 doped with 0.25 mol% of praseodymium showed the highest photocatalytic...
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Nanoparticle-free tissue-mimicking phantoms with intrinsic scattering
PublikacjaWe present an alternative to the conventional approach, phantoms without scattering nanoparticles, where scattering is achieved by the material itself: spherical cavities trapped in a silicone matrix. We describe the properties and fabrication of novel optical phantoms based on a silicone elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and glycerol mixture. Optical properties (absorption coefficient µa, reduced scattering coefficient µs',...
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Influence of Protonation State on the Excited State Dynamics of a Photobiologically Active Ru(II) Dyad
PublikacjaThe influence of ligand protonation on the photophysics of a ruthenium (Ru) dyad bearing the 2-(1-pyrenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline (ippy) ligand was investigated by time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. It was found that changes in the protonation state of the imidazole group led to changes in the electronic configuration of the lowest lying excited state. Formation of the fully deprotonated imidazole...
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Excited states of isoxazole molecules studied by electron energy-loss spectroscopy
PublikacjaElectron energy-loss spectra were measured in isoxazole in the excitation energy range 3.5−10 eV to investigate the valence excited states. Spectra recorded at different scattering conditions enabled the identification of the singlet and triplet states and the determination of their vertical excitation energies. The two lowest energy triplet bands, ππ* 13A' and ππ* 23A' at 4.20 and 5.30 eV, respectively show vibrational progressions....
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STUDY OF CuO AND V2O5 EFFECT ON IR SPECTRA OF POLYCRYSTALLINE BISMUTH NIOBATE
PublikacjaBismuth niobate (BiNbO4) ceramics were fabricated by mixed oxide method and sintered by presureless sintering method. BiNbO4 ceramics doped with V2O5 additive in amount 0.125 wt%, 0.250 wt% and 1 wt% of was sintered at T = 910°C whereas BiNbO4 ceramics doped with 2 wt% of CuO additive was sintered at T = 890°C and T = 910°C. It was found that V2O5 additive improved morphology of the ceramic samples. However, the chemical composition...
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Job Demands, Engagement, and Turnover Intentions in Polish Nurses: The Role of Work-Family Interface
PublikacjaBackground: Poland has lower ratios of employed registered nurses per 1,000 inhabitants than the EU average. Polish nurses work under miserable conditions without assisting personnel, and they reconcile their professional demands with responsibilities for their families; 96% of them are women. Rationale/Aims: This study uses Hobfoll’s conservation of resources (CORs) theory to explain the role of various resources in the improvement...
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Sensors for Rapid Detection of Environmental Toxicity in Blood of Poisoned People
PublikacjaRecently, the diagnosis and treatment of poisoned person can be done only in specialized centers. Furthermore, currently used clinical methods of intoxication diagnosis are not sufficient for early detection. Conventional laboratory tests based on urine and blood require professional, high skilled staff, high cost equipment as well as they are arduous and lasting analytical procedures. There is a need to elaborate relatively cheap...
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Standing Acoustic Waves and Relative Nonlinear Phenomena in a Vibrationally Relaxing Gas-Filled Resonator
PublikacjaStanding acoustic waves in one-dimensional resonator filled with vibrationally relaxing gas, are studied. Two regimes of excitation of molecular vibrational degrees of freedom are considered, equilibrium and nonequilibrium. The acoustic energy enlarges with time in the non-equilibrium regime and decreases otherwise before formation of discontinuity. After that, it decreases due to nonlinear absorption and tends to zero in equilibrium...
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Ex situ XANES, XPS and Raman studies of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) modified by iron hexacyanoferrate
PublikacjaPraca dotyczy materiału hybrydowego złożonego z polimeru elektroaktywnego poli(3,4-etylenodioksytiofenu) i Błękitu Pruskiego. Wykonano pomiary spektroskopowe z użyciem technik: spektrometrii fotoelektronów wzbudzonych promieniami X (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS)), spektroskopii absorpcyjnej struktury przykrawędziowej (X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES)) oraz spektroskopii mikro-Ramana. Przeprowadzone badania...
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Palladium versus Platinum: The Metal in the Catalytic Center of a Molecular Photocatalyst Determines the Mechanism of the Hydrogen Production with Visible Light
PublikacjaTo develop highly efficient molecular photocatalysts for visible light-driven hydrogen production, a thorough understanding of the photophysical and chemical processes in the photocatalyst is of vital importance. In this context, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) investigations show that the nature of the catalytically active metal center in a (N^N)MCl2 (M=Pd or Pt) coordination sphere has a significant impact on the...
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A spectroscopic study of the cis/trans-isomers of penta-2,4-dienoic acid attached to gold nanoclusters
PublikacjaIn this theoretical work, we present a spectroscopic analysis of the cis/trans-isomers of a molecular switch, penta-2,4-dienoic acid, attached to gold clusters of different size (1, 2 and 20 gold atoms). We have simulated 4 different spectroscopic techniques: Infrared spectroscopy, normal Raman scattering, absorption spectra and resonance Raman scattering. We discuss how the position and the conformation of the molecule determine...
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Programmed metalloporphyrins for self-assembly within light-harvesting stacks: 5,15-dicyano-10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-porphyrinato zinc(II) and its push-pull 15-N,N-dialkylamino-5-cyano congeners obtained by a facile direct amination.
PublikacjaThe title dicyano compound was synthesized via cyanation and it self-assembles in nonpolar solvents giving red-shifted and broad absorption maxima just as the bacteriochlorophylls which are encountered in the light-harvesting organelles of early photosynthetic bacteria. In the crystal, stacks are formed through a hierarchic combination of π-stacking and a CNZn electrostatic interaction. Push−pull 15-N,N-dialkylamino-5-cyano congeners...
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Advances in mass spectrometry for iron speciation in plants
PublikacjaIron is an important nutrient essential for plants and critical for human health. The state-of-the art of methods for iron speciation in cereal grains and plant fluids is critically reviewed. Particular attention is given to the latest developments in the coupling of HPLC with the parallel ICP MS and electrospray ionization (ESI) MS/MS detection, usually QTOF MS or Q-Orbitrap MS, for the identification and quantification of iron...
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Spectroscopic Study of Plasma Polymerized a-C:H Films Deposited by a Dielectric Barrier Discharge
PublikacjaPlasma polymerized a-C:H thin films have been deposited on Si (100) and aluminum coated glass substrates by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) operated at medium pressure using C2Hm/Ar (m = 2, 4, 6) gas mixtures. The deposited films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (FT-IRRAS), Raman spectroscopy, and ellipsometry. FT-IRRAS revealed the presence of sp3 and sp2 C–H stretching and...
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Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of MnCo1.5Fe0.5O4Spinel for Oxygen Evolution Reaction through Heat Treatment
PublikacjaMnCo1.5Fe0.5O4 spinel oxide was synthesized using the sol−gel technique, followed by heat treatment at various temperatures (400, 600, 800, and 1000 °C). The prepared materials were examined as anode electrocatalysts for watersplitting systems in alkaline environments. Solid-state characterization methods, such as powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), were used to analyze the materials’ crystallographic...
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Optical method supported by machine learning for dynamics of C‐reactive protein concentrations changes detection in biological matrix samples
PublikacjaIn this article we present the novel spectroscopy method supported with machine learning for real-time detection of infectious agents in wastewater. In the case of infectious diseases, wastewater monitoring can be used to detect the presence of inflammation biomarkers, such as the proposed C-reactive protein, for monitoring inflammatory conditions and mass screening during epidemics for early detection in communities of concern,...
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Transparent thin films of Cu-TiO2 with visible light photocatalytic acitivity
PublikacjaThin films of Cu–TiO2 with a high level of transparency were prepared by a dip-coating procedure on the glass surface. CuCl2 was used as a copper precursor added during sol – gel synthesis of TiO2. The extension of optical absorption into the visible region of as-prepared thin films was indicated by UV/Vis spectroscopy. Only the anatase phase was detected by X-ray di ffraction analysis (XRD). The presence of copper in the structure...
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Hydrogen Production Mechanism in Low-Temperature Methanol Decomposition Catalyzed by Ni3Sn4 Intermetallic Compound: A Combined Operando and Density Functional Theory Investigation
PublikacjaHydrogen production from methanol decomposition to syngas (H2 + CO) is a promising alternative route for clean energy transition. One major challenge is related to the quest for stable, cost-effective, and selective catalysts operating below 400 °C. We illustrate an investigation of the surface reactivity of a Ni3Sn4 catalyst working at 250 °C, by combining density functional theory, operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and high-resolution...
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Fiber-optic Fabry-Pérot sensors – modeling versus measurements results
PublikacjaThis paper describes how parameters of investigated substances and the fiber-optic Fabry-Pérot sensing interferometer affect the spectrum of the optical radiation at the output of the sensor. First, the modeling of the operation of the sensing interferometer was conducted. Most important parameters and effects that were taken into account are: dependences of the refractive indices of the core and the cladding, as well the mode...
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Searching for Solvents with an Increased Carbon Dioxide Solubility Using Multivariate Statistics
PublikacjaIonic liquids (ILs) are used in various fields of chemistry. One of them is CO2 capture, a process that is quite well described. The solubility of CO2 in ILs can be used as a model to investigate gas absorption processes. The aim is to find the relationships between the solubility of CO2 and other variables—physicochemical properties and parameters related to greenness. In this study, 12 variables are used to describe a dataset...
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High-Temperature Structural and Electrical Properties of BaLnCo2O6 Positrodes
PublikacjaThe application of double perovskite cobaltites BaLnCo2O6−δ (Ln = lanthanide element) in electrochemical devices for energy conversion requires control of their properties at operating conditions. This work presents a study of a series of BaLnCo2O6−δ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd) with a focus on the evolution of structural and electrical properties with temperature. Symmetry, oxygen non-stoichiometry, and cobalt valence state have been examined...
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Photophysics of Soret-Excited Tin(IV) Porphyrins in Solution
PublikacjaThe photophysics of low-chlorin tin(IV) tetraphenylporphyrin dihydroxide, a core building block for axially substituted supramolecular tin porphyrin constructs, has been studied in a variety of hydrogen-bonding, nonpolar, and aprotic polar solvents using steady-state, nanosecond, and femtosecond time-resolved emission, and femtosecond time-resolved absorption methods. In hydrogen-bonding solvents the metalloporphyrin exists as...
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Gas Composition Influence on the Properties of Boron-Doped Diamond Films Deposited on the Fused Silica
PublikacjaThe main subject of this study are molecular structures and optical properties of boron-doped diamond films with [B]/[C] ppm ratio between 1000 and 10 000, fabricated in two molar ratios of CH 4 -H 2 mixture (1 % and 4 %). Boron-doped diamond (BDD) film on the fused silica was presented as a conductive coating for optical and electronic purposes. The scanning electron microscopy images showed homogenous and polycrystalline surface...
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Precipitation of Spherical Vaterite Particles via Carbonation Route in the Bubble Column and the Gas-Lift Reactor
PublikacjaSpherical vaterite particles were produced by carbonation of calcium chloride solution with addition of ammonia to facilitate CO2 absorption. Synthesis of calcium carbonate was carried out in a bubble column or gas-lift reactor. The course of the reaction was monitored by pH measurements. Precipitated solids were analyzed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and...
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Photoluminescence of partially reduced Eu2+/Eu3+ active centers in a NaF–Al2O3–P2O5 glassy matrix with tunable smooth spectra
PublikacjaIn this work, a series of photoluminescent materials have been synthesized based on optically transparent and chemically stable glasses of the nominal composition Na3Al2(PO4)2F3 (NaF–Al2O3–P2O5 system) doped with 1 wt% of europium. It has been shown that the synthesis conditions (mainly the temperature and duration of the melting stage under reducing conditions) strongly affected the photoluminescence spectra of the material. This...
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Determination of heavy metals in eyeshadows from China
PublikacjaPersonal care products and cosmetics are used daily by many people, causing local exposure to certain chemical substances through the application directly inside the oral cavity, on the skin, lips, eyes, and mucosa. Eyeshadows are among the most commonly used types of cosmetics. According to scientifc reports, they may contain heavy metals, especially in non-original products. The exposure to said heavy metals may cause local skin...
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Eu3+ doped tellurite glass ceramics containing SrF2 nanocrystals: Preparation, structure and luminescence properties
PublikacjaEu3+ doped tellurite glass ceramics containing SrF2 nanocrystals were prepared using melt quenching technique and subsequent heat treatment of glass in 370 °C for different time periods. Thermal properties of glass matrix have been determined based on DSC measurements. XRD and XPS results confirmed formation of SrF2 nanocrystals in glass matrices after annealing at 370 °C. FTIR studies revealed absorption bands in the range of...
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Ultrafast Intramolecular Relaxation and Wave-Packet Motion in a Ruthenium-Based Supramolecular Photocatalyst
PublikacjaThe hydrogen-evolving photocatalyst [(tbbpy)2 Ru(tpphz)Pd(Cl)2 ](2+) (tbbpy=4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, tpphz=tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3'',2''-h:2''',3'''-j]phenazine) shows excitation-wavelength-dependent catalytic activity, which has been correlated to the localization of the initial excitation within the coordination sphere. In this contribution the excitation-wavelength dependence of the early excited-state relaxation...
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Photophysics of Ru(II) Dyads Derived from Pyrenyl-Substitued Imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline Ligands.
PublikacjaThe photophysics of a series of Ru(II) dyads based on the 2-(1-pyrenyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]-phenanthroline ligand was investigated. The ability of these metal complexes to intercalate DNA and induce cell death upon photoactivation makes them attractive photosensitizers for a range of photobiological applications, including photodynamic therapy. In the present study, time-resolved transient absorption and emission spectroscopy...
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Optoelectronic device for hematocrit measurements
PublikacjaAn optoelectronic system for measurements of hematocrit level (HCT) in the whole human blood is presented. Proposed system integrates a dedicated optoelectronic sensor, a microcontroller and a small LCD display in a low cost, battery-powered, handheld device. Chosen method for determining blood hematocrit level is based on optical properties of whole blood in visible and NIR wavelength range. Measurements with the use of proposed...
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Sodium alginate decreases the permeability of intestinal mucus
PublikacjaIn the small intestine the nature of the environment leads to a highly heterogeneous mucus layer primarily composed of the MUC2 mucin. We set out to investigate whether the soluble dietary fibre sodium alginate could alter the permeability of the mucus layer. The alginate was shown to freely diffuse into the mucus and to have minimal effect on the bulk rheology when added at concentrations below 0.1%. Despite this lack of interaction...
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Designing efficient A-D-A1-D-A type fullerene free acceptor molecules with enhanced power conversion efficiency for solar cell applications
PublikacjaThe achievement of highly efficient power conversion efficiency (PCE) is a big concern for non-fullerene organic solar cells (NF-OSCs) because PCE can depend on numerous variables. Here, new five novel acceptor molecules without fullerenes were developed and investigated using DFT (density functional theory) and TD-DFT (time dependent-density functional theory). Compared to the recently synthesized molecule (PZ-dIDTC6), the developed...
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Polydopamine Biomaterials for Skin Regeneration
PublikacjaDesigning biomaterials capable of biomimicking wound healing and skin regeneration has been receiving increasing attention recently. Some biopolymers behave similarly to the extracellular matrix (ECM), supporting biointerfacial adhesion and intrinsic cellular interactions. Polydopamine (PDA) is a natural bioadhesive and bioactive polymer that endows high chemical versatility, making it an exciting candidate for a wide range of...
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Properties of Thermally Dewetted Thin Au Films on ITO-Coated Glass for Biosensing Applications
PublikacjaNoble metal nanostructures are object of great interest due to their unique optical and electronic properties exploited in nanotechnology, medicine, biochemistry, and surface-enhanced spectroscopies. In this work, the Au nanoparticle (NP) structures for application in biosensing obtained by dewetting are investigated in dependence on their preparation conditions. Structures are produced from thin Au films (5–30 nm) sputtered onto...
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Metamaterial-Based Sub-Microwave Electromagnetic Field Energy Harvesting System
PublikacjaThis paper presents the comprehensive analysis of the sub-microwave, radio frequency band resonant metastructures’ electromagnetic properties with a particular emphasis on the possibility of their application in energy harvesting systems. Selected structures based on representative topologies of metamaterials have been implemented in the simulation environment. The models have been analyzed and their substitute average electromagnetic...
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Light-Modulated Sunscreen Mechanism in the Retina of the Human Eye
PublikacjaThe functioning of the human eye in the extreme range of light intensity requires a combination of the high sensitivity of photoreceptors with their photostability. Here, we identify a regulatory mechanism based on dynamic modulation of light absorption by xanthophylls in the retina, realized by reorientation of pigment molecules induced by trans–cis photoisomerization. We explore this photochemically switchable system using chromatographic...
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Fast-response optoelectronic detection of explosives’ residues from the nitroaromatic compounds detonation: field studies approach
PublikacjaWe are presenting an application of optoelectronic nitrogen dioxide (NO2) analyzer based on cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy in the detection of traces of explosives after detonation. It has been shown that the analyzer using blue-violet laser is able to detect explosive residues after the detonation of various amounts of nitroaromatic compounds (75g-1kg) with higher efficiency than the HPLC soil sample testing equipment,...
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3D Hierarchical Boron-Doped Diamond-Multilayered Graphene Nanowalls as an Efficient Supercapacitor Electrode
PublikacjaSynthesis of stable hybrid carbon nanostructure for high-performance supercapacitor electrode with long life-cycle for electronic and energy storage devices is a real challenge. Here, we present a one-step synthesis method to produce conductive boron-doped hybrid carbon nanowalls (HCNWs), where sp2-bonded graphene has been integrated with and over a three-dimensional curved wall-like network of sp3-bonded diamond. The spectroscopic...
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Photovoltaic effect in the single-junction DBP/PTCBI organic system under low intensity of monochromatic light
PublikacjaPhotoelectric properties of the planar ITO/MoO3/DBP/PTCBI/BCP/Ag system were characterized on the basis of short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage and absorption spectra, and current-voltage measurements in the dark and under monochromatic illumination of low intensity. Photovoltaic performance of the system was compared with the performance of ideal semiconductor and excitonic cells of chosen bandgaps. Such analysis shows,...
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Effect of the Catalytic Center on the Electron Transfer Dynamics in Hydrogen-Evolving Ruthenium-Based Photocatalysts Investigated by Theoretical Calculations
PublikacjaThe light-induced relaxation pathways in the molecular photocatalyst [(tbbpy)2Ru(tpphz)PtCl2]2+ are investigated with time-dependent density functional theory calculations together with the Marcus theory of electron transfer (ET). The calculations show that metal (Ru) to ligand (tpphz) charge transfer (MLCT) triplet states are populated following an excitation in the longer wavelength range of the absorption spectrum, but that an...
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Nano-structured Pt embedded in acidic salts of heteropolymolybdate matrices: MS EXAFS study
PublikacjaA structural study of Pt nano-catalysts is presented in the paper. The innovation in the case of the considered catalytic materials resides in the use a meso-microporous inorganic matrix of heteropolyacid salt of composition X2.5H0.5YMo12O40 where X = Rb, Cs and Y = P, Si as a catalyst support. Metallic nanoparticles were created by platinum ions reduction in a hot H2/Argon stream and were mainly located into matrix pores. As the...
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Highly porous nanoberyllium for X-ray beam speckle suppression
PublikacjaThe speckle suppressor device containing highly porous nanoberyllium is proposed for manipulating with the spatial coherence length and removing undesirable speckle structure during the imaging experiments. We report a special device called the speckle suppressor, which contains the highly porous nanoberyllium plate, compacted from both sides by two beryllium windows. By insertion the speckle suppressor in the X-ray beam it allows...
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Solid-contact lead(II) ion-selective electrodes for potentiometric determination of lead(II) in presence of high concentrations of Na(I), Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Ca(II) and Mg(II)
PublikacjaLead and its compounds are a serious threat to the environment. Monitoring of this toxic heavy metal is a driving force for the continuous development of novel lead(II) ionophores to be applied in ion-selective electrodes. In this work a highly selective lead(II) ionophore, namely 25,26,27,28-tetrakis(piperidinylthiocarbonylmethylene)-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, was used in solid-contact ion-selective electrodes for determination...
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The influence of the size of a one-faced metallic head in Janus nanoparticles as a co-catalyst on the photocatalytic efficiency of hydrogen evolution under vis light irradiation
PublikacjaJanus nanoparticles (NPs) consisting of MoOxSy nanospheres and silver (Ag) head, successfully developed by a simple, controlled method were in the first time they were applied as a co-catalysts in photocatalytic hydrogen generation reaction under vis light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The MoOxSy-Ag as a co-catalysts were deposited on the obtained ZnIn2S4 microspheres (ZIS) using physical absorption method. The influence of the size...
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The use of Kamienna głowa cabbage species for phytoextraction of zinc and cadmium from the soil
PublikacjaAlthough traditional technologies for cleaning contaminated soils have proven to be efficient, they are usually expensive, labor intensive, and in the case of soil, they produce severe disturbance. Most recently, the use of plants in metal extraction (phytoremediation) has appeared as a promising alternative in the removal of heavy metal excess from soil. Phytoremediation uses of plant for pollutant stabilization, extraction, degradation,...
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Progress in development of molecularly imprinted polymers as sorbents for sample preparation
PublikacjaSample preparation has been one of the most often investigated steps in analytical procedures.These investigations are focused on problems such as isolation of analytes from the sample matrix, matrix implification, analyte enrichment to the level above the detection limit of the instrumentation used, and the removal of interfering species to improve the final determination. Techniques based on solid (adsorption) and pseudo liquid...