Effect of the Addition of Graphene Flakes on the Physical and Biological Properties of Composite Paints.

In this study, graphene flakes were obtained using an electrolytic method and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM/TEM). Graphene-based composites with varying concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 3% by weight were prepared with acrylic paint, enamel and varnish matrices. The mechanical properties were evaluated using micro-hardness testing, while wettability and antimicrobial activity against three pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus 33591, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15442, Candida albicans 10231) were also examined. The results indicate that the addition of graphene flakes significantly enhances both the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of the coatings.

Broad Luminescence Generated by IR Laser Excitation from CsPbBr3:Yb3+ Perovskite Ceramics.

This paper demonstrates the generation of broadband emission in the visible and infrared ranges induced by a concentrated beam of infrared radiation from CsPbBr3 ceramics doped with Yb3+ ions. The sample was obtained by the conventional solid-state reaction method, and XRD measurements confirmed the phase purity of the material crystallizing in the orthorhombic system. Spectroscopic measurements required further sample preparation in the form of ceramics using a high-pressure press. The research showed that as the excitation power increases, the emission intensity does not increase linearly from the beginning of the experiment. Irradiation of the material results in the accumulation of the delivered energy. Absorption of a sufficient number of photons triggers avalanche emission. It was found that the most intense luminescence is produced in a vacuum. Changes in conductivity were also observed, where the excitation was able to lower the resistivity of the material and it was highly dependent on the excitation power. The mechanism responsible for the generation of the observed phenomenon involving intervalence charge transfer (IVCT) transitions has been postulated.

Optimization of the Electrochemical Method of Obtaining Graphene Nanoplatelets (GNPs).

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were prepared using the electrolytic exfoliation method on graphite foil in an ammonium sulfate solution. A series of experiments were conducted in order to optimize the production of the flakes by varying the pH of the solution, applied voltage and current, duration of electrolysis, temperature in the electrolytic system, and type and duration of the ultrasound interaction. The quality of the produced graphene nanoplatelets was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Raman and IR spectroscopy, and TEM.

Laser induced white emission generation from La1-xNdxAlO3 nanocrystals.

The synthesis and structural characteristics of nanocrystalline LaAlO3 perovskites doped with different concentrations of Nd3+ ions are reported. Their excitation and Stokes emission spectra, in which significant concentration quenching was observed, were recorded and characterized. The measurements of anti-Stokes laser induced white emission (LIWE) spectra were also performed. It was found that the LIWE intensity increased exponentially with the excitation laser power above the excitation threshold. In particular, the concentration and pressure dependences of the LIWE spectra of La1-xNdxAlO3 were investigated. Despite the pronounced concentration quenching observed in the Stokes emission, no such effect could be observed in the anti-Stokes one. A possible inter-valence charge transfer (IVCT) mechanism for the white emission, in which different bands that were observed correspond to different valences of Nd, is proposed.

Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Optical and Magnetic Properties of Samarium, Terbium, and Erbium Coordination Entities Containing Mono-Substituted Imine Silsesquioxane Ligands.

Mono-substituted cage-like silsesquioxanes of the T8-type can play the role of potential ligands in the coordination chemistry. In this paper, we report on imine derivatives as ligands for samarium, terbium, and erbium cations and discuss their efficient synthesis, crystal structures, and magnetic and optical properties. X-ray analysis of the lanthanide coordination entities [MCl3(POSS)3]·2THF [M = Er3+ (3), Tb3+ (4), Sm3+ (5)] showed that all three compounds crystallize in the same space group with similar lattice parameters. All compounds contain an octahedrally coordinated metal atom, and additionally, 3 and 5 structures are strictly isomorphous. However, surprisingly, there are two different molecules in the crystal structure of the terbium coordination entity 4, monomer (sof 65%) and dimer (sof 35%), with one and two metal centers. Absorption measurements of the investigated materials recorded at 300 K showed that regardless of the lanthanide involved, their energy band gap equals 2.7 eV. Moreover, the analogues containing Tb3+ and Sm3+ exhibit luminescence typical of these rare earth ions in the visible and infrared spectral range, while the compound with Er3+ does not generate any emission. Direct current variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 3-5 were performed between 1.8 and 300 K. The magnetic properties of 3 and 4 are dominated by the crystal field effect on the Er3+ and Tb3+ ions, respectively, hiding the magnetic influence between the magnetic cations of adjacent molecules. Complex 5 exhibits a nature typical for the paramagnetism of the samarium(III) cation.

Luminescence and Dielectric Switchable Properties of a 1D (1,1,1-Trimethylhydrazinium)PbI3 Hybrid Perovskitoid.

The synthesis and investigation of the physicochemical properties of a novel one-dimensional (1D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskitoid templated by the 1,1,1-trimethylhydrazinium (Me3Hy+) cation are reported. (Me3Hy)[PbI3] crystallizes in the hexagonal P63/m symmetry and undergoes two phase transitions (PTs) during heating (cooling) at 322 (320) and 207 (202) K. X-ray diffraction data and temperature-dependent vibrational studies show that the second-order PT to the high-temperature hexagonal P63/mmc phase is associated with a weak change in entropy and is related to weak structural changes and different confinement of cations in the available space. The second PT to the low-temperature orthorhombic Pbca phase that corresponds to the high change in entropy and dielectric switching is associated with an ordering of the trimethylhydrazinium cations, re-arrangement and strengthening of hydrogen bonds, and slightly shifted lead-iodide octahedral chains. The high-pressure Raman data revealed two additional PTs, one between 2.8 and 3.2 GPa, related to the symmetry decrease, ordering of the cations, and inorganic chain distortion, and the other in the 6.4-6.8 GPa range related to the partial and reversible amorphization. Optical studies revealed that (Me3Hy)[PbI3] has a wide band gap (3.20 eV) and emits reddish-orange excitonic emission at low temperatures with an activation energy of 65 meV.

Laser-Induced Generation of Hydrogen in Water by Using Graphene Target.

A new method of hydrogen generation from water, by irradiation with CW infrared laser diode of graphene scaffold immersed in solution, is reported. Hydrogen production was extremely efficient upon admixing NaCl into water. The efficiency of hydrogen production increased exponentially with laser power. It was shown that hydrogen production was highly efficient when the intense white light emission induced by laser irradiation of graphene foam was occurring. The mechanism of laser-induced dissociation of water is discussed. It was found that hydrogen production was extremely high, at about 80%, and assisted by a small emission of O2, CO and CO2 gases.

Laser induced visible and infrared emission of a tungsten filament.

The measurements of laser induced emission (LIE) of a tungsten filament upon irradiation with the focused beam of a CW IR laser diode are reported. It was found that the emission occurred in visible and infrared range. The influence of the applied DC electric field significantly affected the intensity of LIE of the tungsten filament. The origin of LIE is discussed in terms of multiphoton ionization of tungsten W+ atoms assisted by light emission due to the intervalence charge transfer in the tungsten hybrid domain (W, W+).

Vibrational and optical studies of a nonlinear optical crystal, Cs2Bi2O(Ge2O7).

Single crystals of a non-centrosymmetric and polar Cs2Bi2O(Ge2O7) compound were grown from melt. This material was characterized by polarized Raman scattering at room temperature. The comparison to the polycrystalline IR and Raman spectra has been made and assignment of all observed modes to the respective vibrations and their symmetry has been proposed. Our results show that this crystal is promising SRS-active nonlinear optical material for up- and down-Raman laser-frequency converters with the most intense lasing line at 481 cm-1. Optical studies show that Cs2Bi2O(Ge2O7) exhibits intense absorption bands with peaks maxima at 260 and 293 nm (77 K) typical for 1S0→1,3P1 transitions of Bi3+ ions, which are parity-allowed due to spin-orbit coupling as well as unexpected band centered at 360 nm that was assigned to intervalence charge transfer transition.

Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Spectroscopic Properties of Novel Gadolinium and Erbium Triphenylsiloxide Coordination Entities.

In alkali metal and lanthanide coordination chemistry, triphenylsiloxides seem to be unduly underappreciated ligands. This is as surprising as that such substituents play a crucial role, among others, in stabilizing rare oxidation states of lanthanide ions, taking a part of intramolecular and molecular interactions stabilizing metal-oxygen cores and many others. This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of new lithium [Li4(OSiPh3)4(THF)2] (1), and sodium [Na4(OSiPh3)4] (2) species, which were later used in obtaining novel gadolinium [Gd(OSiPh3)3(THF)3]·THF (3), and erbium [Er(OSiPh3)3(THF)3]·THF (4) configuration, it can result in res were determined for all 1-4 compounds, and in addition, IR, Raman, absorption spectroscopy studies were conducted for 3 and 4 lanthanide compounds. Furthermore, direct current (dc) variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 3 and 4 were carried out in the temperature range 1.8-300 K. The 3 shows behavior characteristics for the paramagnetism of the Gd3+ ion. In contrast, the magnetic properties of 4 are dominated by the crystal field effect on the Er3+ ion, masking the magnetic interaction between magnetic centers of neighboring molecules.

Studies of graphene influence on the laser induced white emission spectra of Sr2CeO4/graphene flake composites.

The Stokes and anti-Stokes emission spectra generated from Sr2CeO4/graphene flake composites were investigated. The excitation and emission spectra, decay profiles and quantum efficiency of the studied materials were collected. It was found that the addition of graphene flakes (GFs) significantly affects spectroscopic properties. In particular, the anti-Stokes laser induced white emission spectra were analyzed as a function of excitation laser power, and ambient atmospheric pressure. The influence of graphene flakes concentration on laser induced photocurrent was investigated. The color of their emission significantly differs from the color of other tested composites. In particular, the impact of graphene concentration on the investigated features will be presented and mechanisms responsible for the observed effects will be discussed.

[Diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (dipnech) - an overview of the cases diagnosed at the department of thoracic surgery in the years 2010-2014].

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNEC) are present in the normal lungs with the incidence of 1 in 2500 epithelial cells. They usually proliferate in the presence of reactive processes related to inflammation and fibrosis of the lung parenchyma. The division of pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia proposed by Travis et al. additionally distinguished diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) or proliferation that occurs in people without reactive hyperplasia risk factors. The confirmation of the DIPNECH diagnosis requires staining of biopsy specimens using the immunohistochemical technique for neuroendocrine markers. AIM: The aim of this study is to overview the cases of 5 patients in whom the histopathological DIPNECH diagnosis was made in the process of invasive diagnostics performed at the Department of Thoracic Surgery. The aim of the study is to evaluate typical clinical, functional, radiological and histopathological features of this rare disease syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the period from April 2010 to June 2014, five patients with lesions in the lungs were subjected to invasive diagnostics. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations of the collected specimens were used to make the DIPNECH diagnosis in these patients. The natural history of the disease was traced based on a 5-year follow-up in one of the patients. In addition, we analyzed the literature with regard to the described cases. CONCLUSIONS: Thanks to the early diagnosis of non-specific lesions in the lungs, typical carcinoid which develops on the basis of discussed DIPNECH, was found in the resected material in two out of five operated patients. The accurate diagnosis of DIPNECH allows for the implementation of appropriate treatment and channels further management of the patient into the right direction.