Hydrothermal Synthesis of Nanocomposites Combining Tungsten Trioxide and Zinc Oxide Nanosheet Arrays for Improved Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dye.

Both tungsten trioxide (WO) nanosheet arrays and tungsten trioxide/zinc oxide (WO/ZnO) nanocomposites were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass slides using a hydrothermal method to develop a visible-light-driven photocatalyst with easy reusability. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) observations confirmed the formation of irregular oxide nanosheet arrays on the FTO surfaces. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the presence of hexagonal WO and wurtzite ZnO crystal phases.

Recording of a holographic cylindrical vector beam converter with a truncated cone prism.

This Letter proposes a holographic cylindrical vector beam converter (HCVBC) design that incorporates a continuously polarization-selective volume hologram circular-grating. A specially designed truncated cone prism is adopted for recording, which is conducted with a single incident, expanded, radially polarized beam. A prototype of this HCVBC was recorded and tested successfully.

Measurement of the refractive index of lenses from the maximum phase difference of the total internal reflection with a polarization camera.

The proposed total internal reflection (TIR)-based technique can be used for measuring the refractive index of lenses. Distribution of the phase difference between the - and -polarization states of the reflected light induced by TIR can be obtained by a polarization camera. The refractive index of the lens can be determined from the detected maximum phase difference, with the specific measurement equation.

High Response CO Sensor Based on a Polyaniline/SnO₂ Nanocomposite.

A polyaniline (PANI)/tin oxide (SnO₂) composite for a CO sensor was fabricated using a composite film composed of SnO₂ nanoparticles and PANI deposition in the present study. Tin oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method. The SnO₂ nanoparticles provided a high surface area to significantly enhance the response to the change in CO concentration at low operating temperature (<75 °C).

Prism-hologram-prism sandwiched recording method for polarization-selective substrate-mode volume holograms with a large diffraction angle.

We propose a prism-hologram-prism sandwiched recording method for the fabrication of polarization-selective substrate-mode volume holograms with a large diffraction angle. In fabrication, the C-RT20 photopolymer is sandwiched between two 45°-90°-45° prisms and the interference fringes can be easily recorded in the recording material. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Heterodyne moiré surface profilometry.

In this study, a novel moiré fringe analysis technique is proposed for measuring the surface profile of an object. After applying a relative displacement between two gratings at a constant velocity, every pixel of CMOS camera can capture a heterodyne moiré signal. The precise phase distribution of the moiré fringes can be extracted using a one-dimensional fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis on every pixel, simultaneously filtering the harmonic noise of the moiré fringes.

Multiport optical circulator by using polarizing beam splitter cubes as spatial walk-off polarizers.

Optical circulators are necessary passive devices applied in optical communication systems. In the design of optical circulators, the implementation of the function of spatial walk-off polarizers is a key technique that significantly influences the performance and cost of a device. This paper proposes a design of a multiport optical circulator by using polarizing beam splitter cubes as spatial walk-off polarizers.

Measurement of the pretilt angle and the cell gap of nematic liquid crystal cells by heterodyne interferometry.

This work proposes a simple method, based on the crystal rotation technique and heterodyne interferometry, to simultaneously determine the pretilt angle and cell gap of nematic liquid crystal cells. When heterodyne light passes through a nematic liquid crystal cell, the phase retardation given by the characteristic parameters of the cell can be measured accurately by heterodyne interferometry. This phase retardation relates to the pretilt angle, cell gap, and angle of incidence on the cell.

Optical method for measuring optical rotation angle and refractive index of chiral solution.

Based on the phenomena of Brewster's angle and the principles of common-path heterodyne interferometry, we present an optical method for measuring the optical rotation angle and the refractive index of a chiral solution simultaneously in one optical configuration. A heterodyne light beam and a circularly polarized heterodyne light beam are separately guided to project onto the interface of a semicircle glass and a chiral solution. One of the beams is transmitted through the solution, and the other is reflected near Brewster's angle at the interface.

Improved N-port optical quasi-circulator by using a pair of orthogonal holographic spatial- and polarization- modules.

Based on the flexibilities of light beam propagation in three dimensions, we propose an improved N-port optical quasi-circulator by using a pair of orthogonal holographic spatial- and polarization- modules. All optical elements are located in parallel planes that are perpendicular to the optical axis. The number of optical elements is decreased, and a higher performance optical quasi-circulator without crosstalk and polarization mode dispersion can be easily achieved.

Multi-port polarization-independent optical quasi-circulators by using a pair of holographic spatial- and polarization- modules.

In this paper we proposed an alternative type of multi-port polarization-independent optical quasi-circulator by using a pair of holographic spatial- and polarization- modules. The prototype is fabricated and experimentally tested. In addition, the operating principles, the characteristics and the performances of this device are discussed.

Holographic spatial walk-off polarizer and its application to a 4-port polarization-independent optical circulator.

Based on the coupled-wave theory, a holographic spatial walk-off polarizer (HSWP) is designed. This HSWP is a transmission-type phase volume holographic grating on a substrate and its optical recording geometry can be derived from Chen's corrected methodology with a desired reconstruction condition. A pair of fabricated HSWPs with the splitting angle of 60 degrees is applied to assemble a new type of 4-port polarizationindependent optical circulator.

[Effects of fenvalerate on reproductive and endocrine systems of male rats].

Objectives: To evaluate the impairment of fenvalerate on reproductive and endocrine systems and clarify the mechanism of action.

Methods: Different doses of fenvalerate (0, 2, 4, 12, 60 mg/kg) were orally treated to the adult male SD rats for 15 days and 30 days, respectively. The levels of serum follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone(T) and testis homogenate T were determined by radioimmunoassay(RIA).