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Air pollution and the energy crisis are the two main driving forces behind the development of alternative, environmentally friendly methods of energy production. Photoactive materials can be used both to clean the air and to produce green hydrogen for clean energy. Transition metal oxides are one of the most considered materials for high-performance photocatalysis. In this work, we investigate the effect of millisecond flash lamp annealing (FLA) of TiO2 on the degradation of methyl blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). To reduce the energy consumption of the TiO2 deposition process, the layers were made using magnetron sputtering at room temperature, followed by millisecond FLA. By controlling the flash energy input, we can tune the phase formation of TiO2 films from pure anatase to mixed anatase/rutile phases. Scanning electron microscopy, positron annihilation spectroscopy, photoluminescence and X-ray diffraction studies show that the crystal size and film quality increase with increasing annealing temperature. Photocatalytic experiments demonstrate that FLA-treated TiO2 films are active in degrading both MB and MO. This makes them attractive not only for the production of green hydrogen, but also for the purification of water from medical contaminants.

Este artículo trata sobre el uso de un cuento motor, creado ex profeso de forma colaborativa por profesorado de Educación Física de Primaria y Educación Superior. La experiencia pedagógica tiene como propósito desarrollar la compasión y la empatía del alumnado hacia la inclusión mediante la cooperación en diferentes retos propuestos. El cuento motor se implementó en dos grupos de 3º de Primaria de dos centros públicos diferentes y, de forma complementaria, en dos jornadas destinadas a la formación de profesorado. La recogida de datos se realizó sobre todo mediante diarios de observación, la grabación de las dos sesiones en Primaria y un grupo de discusión posterior al visionado de la experiencia. Los resultados abogan por preparar concienzudamente la actividad, mostrar una buena actitud y dedicar tiempo a la reflexión. Asimismo, durante el cuento afloraron emociones como la empatía y la compasión hacía las personas con diversidad funcional, pero también acabaron produciéndose situaciones de 'superempatía' y de 'cooperación impuesta'. This article deals with the use of a motor story, created ex profeso collaboratively by teachers of Physical Education of Primary and Higher Education. The purpose aims to develop compassion and empathy of students towards inclusion through the cooperation in different challenges proposed. The motor story was implemented in two groups of 3rd Primary from two different public schools and, in a complementary way, in two events aimed at teacher training. The data collection was done especially through observation diaries, recording of the two sessions in primary school, and a discussion group. Results show the need to properly prepare the activity, the attitude of the person who narrates it and add a time dedicated to reflection. Motor story brought out emotions such as empathy and compassion towards people with functional diversity, but also ended up producing situations of 'superempathy' and 'imposed cooperation'.

Many applications of titanium dioxide (TiO2) partially rely on its good performance as solvent for impurities [1]. For example, metal (cation) dopants can functionalize or enhance TiO2 as catalyst [2], diluted magnetic semiconductor [3] or transparent conductor [4]. Special attention has been devoted to TiO2 photoactivity where doping has been extensively studied towards band-gap narrowing to achieve visible-light (VISL) response [2]. Here, the most common approach has relied on anion (B,C,N,F,S,…) dopants triggered by the work of Asahi et al. [5]. However, cation (Cr,V,Fe,Ni,Mo,…) doping can also effectively increase VISL absorption but introducing severe structural distortions that additionally result in carrier recombination centers [4]. Our interest is focused on improving the structural quality of metal (co-)doped TiO2 films by post-deposition rapid and non-contact thermal treatments such as flash-lamp-annealing (FLA). An additional objective is to do so with (single and mixed) phase selectivity. For example, the promotion of anatase would be preferable due to the superior photoactivity of this phase or phase mixtures with high anatase content [6]. In particular, in this paper we address the impact of FLA on pure and (co-)doped (Cr,N) TiO2 films produced by magnetron sputtering as relevant systems for VISL photoactivity. The results on monolithic films [7] will be presented as well as promising alternatives to promote anatase by the use of modulated film architectures. The interest of FLA processing can also be extended to other dopants in TiO2 for improving the photoactivity or any other functionality. Therefore, the reported methodology can be attractive for many industrial applications dealing with the synthesis of band-gap engineered TiO2-based materials. [1] Sacerdoti et al., J. Solid State Chem. 177, 1781 (2004); [2] Henderson, Surf. Sci. Rep. 66, 185 (2011); [3] Matsumoto et al. Science 291, 854 (2001); [4] Serpone et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 24287 (2006); [5] Asahi et al. Science 293, 269 (2001) [6] Scanlon et al., Nat. Mater. 12, 798 (2013); [7] R. Gago, S. Prucnal et al., J. Alloys & Compounds 729 (2017) 438.

Many applications of TiO2 partially rely on its good performance as solvent for impurities [1]. In particular, metal (cation) dopants can functionalize or enhance TiO2 as catalyst [2], diluted magnetic semiconductor [3] or transparent conductor [4]. Special attention has been devoted to TiO2 photoactivity where doping has been extensively studied towards band-gap narrowing to achieve visible-light (VISL) response [2]. Metal doping (Cr,Mo,V…) can increase VISL absorption but introduces severe structural distortions that additionally result in carrier recombination centers [4]. Our research seeks for processing routes to improve the structural quality of Cr (co-)doped films produced by magnetron sputtering with emphasis in phase selectivity. Namely, the promotion of anatase is preferred due to the superior photoactivity of this phase or phase mixtures with high anatase content [5]. Recently [6], we have reported the impact of non-contact flash-lamp annealing (FLA) on monolithic TiO2(:Cr) films. By tuning the energy flux, FLA yields customized TiO2 phases but, in doped structures, phase formation only takes place for low Cr contents (< 5 at.%) and the rutile structure is mostly favored. On the contrary, modulated film architecture has shown promising results for anatase growth [7]. In this paper, such scheme, in conjunction with FLA, is explored in detail to optimize the film structural quality and growth design. REFs: [1] Sacerdoti et al., J. Solid State Chem. 177, 1781 (2004); [2] Henderson, Surf. Sci. Rep. 66, 185 (2011); [3] Matsumoto et al. Science 291, 854 (2001); [4] Serpone et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 24287 (2006); [5] Scanlon et al., Nat. Mater. 12, 798 (2013); [6] R. Gago, S. Prucnal et al., J. Alloys & Compounds 729 (2017) 438; [7] R. Gago, S. Prucnal et al., to be submitted.

Plasmon resonance heterogeneities were identified and studied along Ag and TiAlN layers within a multilayer stack in nanolaminate TiAlN/Ag coatings. For this purpose, a high-resolution plasmon microscopy was used. The plasmons intensity, energy, and depth of interface plasmon-polariton penetration were studied by scanning reflected electron energy loss spectroscopy. The heat conductivity of such metal-insulator-metal (MIM) nanolaminate coatings was measured by laser reflectometry. Dependencies of thermal conductivity coefficient of coatings, MIM interfaces, and resistivity of Ag layers as a function of the Ag-TiAlN bilayer thickness were calculated on the basis of experimental data. The contribution of plasmon resonance confinement to the abnormal lower thermal conductivity in the MIM metamaterial with Ag layer thickness below 25 nm is discussed. In particular, the results highlight the relevant role of different heat transfer mechanisms between MI and IM interfaces: asymmetry of plasmon-polariton interactions on upper and lower boundaries of Ag layer and asymmetry of LA and TA phonons propagation through interfaces.