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Utilization of solar energy in the photodegradation of gasoline in water and of oil-field-produced water.

The photo-Fenton process utilizes ferrous ions (Fe2+), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation as a source of hydroxyl radicals for the oxidation of organic matter present in aqueous effluents. The cost associated with the use of artificial irradiation sources has hindered industrial application of this process. In this work, the applicability of solar radiation for the photodegradation of raw gasoline in water has been studied. The photo-Fenton process was also applied to a real effluent, i.e., oil-field-produced water, and the experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of employing solar irradiation to degrade this complex saturated-hydrocarbon-containing system.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Hornet flight is generated by solar energy: UV irradiation counteracts anaesthetic effects.

The Oriental hornet Vespa orientalis (Hymenoptera, Vespinae) flies outside its nest only in the daytime and never in the dark. Oriental hornets can be anaesthetized by means of diethyl ether, following which they awake spontaneously within about > or =1 h. However, when the anaesthetized hornets are exposed to direct irradiation they awake much faster and immediately fly out and this is within the temperature range for their normal activities (20-40 degrees C). Light exerts an effect not only on intact hornets, but also on their main body parts, be they the head, thorax or gaster, or a torso without a head or without a gaster. These body parts also 'awake' from ether anaesthesia when illuminated, especially by ultraviolet (UV) B or shorter light wavelengths, but a body without a gaster awakes much later than normal. As for flight activity, headless hornets do not fly at all, while hornets devoid of a gaster flutter their wings when illuminated but are incapable of rising in the air. When vespan cuticular regions are coated with paint that blocks the passage of light, such as UVB blockers, or with white Tipp-Ex, the awakening from anaesthesia is delayed. The vespan cuticle evinces photovoltaic activity, even in dead specimens, so that upon exposure to light it is possible to record levels of 30-180 mV, both in a wakeful hornet and in one that has undergone anaesthesia. We conjecture that in the awake hornet the voltage that its cuticle generates under the influence of light is transported within the cuticular interlamellar membranes to be utilized as flight energy by the muscles attached to them; however, in the narcotized hornet, the diethyl ether apparently decreases or disrupts membranal order, blocking any ionic channel activity and thereby inducing the anaesthesia. Presumably, this state of phase transition is remedied spontaneously, albeit in a lengthy process, or else the light energy in UV speeds up restoration of the ionic channel activity and the synaptic transmission and thereby contributes to a more rapid awakening. In this regard, the hornet gaster is an extensive region for absorbing light, which explains why its absence considerably delays the awakening from anaesthesia.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

Implantable control, telemetry, and solar energy system in the moving actuator type total artificial heart.

The moving actuator type total artificial heart (TAH) developed in the Seoul National University has numerous design improvements based upon the digital signal processor (DSP). These improvements include the implantability of all electronics, an automatic control algorithm, and extension of the battery run-time in connection with an amorphous silicon solar system (SS). The implantable electronics consist of the motor drive, main processor, intelligent Li ion battery management (LIBM) based upon the DSP, telemetry system, and transcutaneous energy transmission (TET) system. Major changes in the implantable electronics include decreasing the temperature rise by over 21 degrees C on the motor drive, volume reduction (40 x 55 x 33 mm, 7 cell assembly) of the battery pack using a Li ion (3.6 V/cell, 900 mA.h), and improvement of the battery run-time (over 40 min) while providing the cardiac output (CO) of 5 L/min at 100 mm Hg afterload when the external battery for testing is connected with the SS (2.5 W, 192.192, 1 kg) for the external battery recharge or the partial TAH drive. The phase locked loop (PLL) based telemetry system was implemented to improve stability and the error correction DSP algorithm programmed to achieve high accuracy. A field focused light emitting diode (LED) was used to obtain low light scattering along the propagation path, similar to the optical property of the laser and miniature sized, mounted on the pancake type TET coils. The TET operating resonance frequency was self tuned in a range of 360 to 410 kHz to provide enough power even at high afterloads. An automatic cardiac output regulation algorithm was developed based on interventricular pressure analysis and carried out in several animal experiments successfully. All electronics have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo and prepared for implantation of the TAH. Substantial progress has been made in designing a completely implantable TAH at the preclinical stage.

Algorithms↗

Photoinduced charge transfer and efficient solar energy conversion in a blend of a red polyfluorene copolymer with CdSe nanoparticles.

We present measurements of charge transfer and the photovoltaic effect in a blend of the alternating polyfluorene copolymer poly(2,7-(9,9-dioctyl-fluorene)-alt-5,5-(4',7'-di-2-thienyl-2',1',3'-benzothiadiazole)) with branched CdSe nanoparticles. Quasi-steady-state photoinduced absorption measurements identified a long-lived charged species that formed after photoexcitation at room temperature. Photovoltaic devices based on this blend system showed a spectral response extending to 650 nm and gave a solar power conversion efficiency of 2.4% under Air Mass 1.5 Global (AM1.5G) conditions.

Cadmium Compounds↗

Solar energy conversion by dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells.

The quality of human life depends to a large degree on the availability of energy. This is threatened unless renewable energy resources can be developed in the near future. Chemistry is expected to make important contributions to identify environmentally friendly solutions of the energy problem. One attractive strategy discussed in this Forum Article is the development of solar cells that are based on the sensitization of mesoscopic oxide films by dyes or quantum dots. These systems have already reached conversion efficiencies exceeding 11%. The underlying fundamental processes of light harvesting by the sensitizer, heterogeneous electron transfer from the electronically excited chromophore into the conduction band of the semiconductor oxide, and percolative migration of the injected electrons through the mesoporous film to the collector electrode will be described below in detail. A number of research topics will also be discussed, and the examples for the first outdoor application of such solar cells will be provided.

Journal Article↗

High energy solar radiation and the origin of life.

Recent satellite observations of young, sun-like stars allow an estimation of the ultraviolet and X-ray radiation environment of the primitive Earth. Energy from these sources is found to be much higher than previously believed. We suggest that the influence of high energy radiation on the early development of life be reexamined.

Origin of Life↗

High efficiency carrier multiplication in PbSe nanocrystals: implications for solar energy conversion.

We demonstrate for the first time that impact ionization (II) (the inverse of Auger recombination) occurs with very high efficiency in semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs). Interband optical excitation of PbSe NCs at low pump intensities, for which less than one exciton is initially generated per NC on average, results in the formation of two or more excitons (carrier multiplication) when pump photon energies are more than 3 times the NC band gap energy. The generation of multiexcitons from a single photon absorption event is observed to take place on an ultrafast (picosecond) time scale and occurs with up to 100% efficiency depending upon the excess energy of the absorbed photon. Efficient II in NCs can be used to considerably increase the power conversion efficiency of NC-based solar cells.

Journal Article↗