Electron Beam Irradiation Research Articles

A distinctive bound exciton line induced by electron-beam irradiation and subsequent annealing of an unintentionally doped GaN layer

Abstract An undefined bound exciton line (UDX) with a photon energy 0.6 meV lower than the Si-donor bound exciton line was observed by photoluminescence in GaN layers annealed at 1100 °C after electron beam (EB) irradiation at an energy of 137–2000 keV. The UDX was not observed in samples not subjected to EB irradiation or annealing but was found in a sample annealed after EB irradiation at an energy of 137 keV, where only nitrogen atoms are displaced in GaN. The origin of the UDX was presumably formed by a thermal reaction of defects containing nitrogen-displacement-related defects.

Structural modifications of BiOBr nanoplates by electron beam irradiation

Abstract In this study, BiOBr nanoplates are synthesized through the hydrothermal method, then samples have been irradiated by an electron beam of 10 MeV energy to deliver doses of 100 kGy and 500 kGy. XRD and Raman investigations corroborated the presence of a pure phase in all nanoplate samples. The sharp and narrow peaks in XRD indicate well crystalline in nature of the samples, which decreases with increasing the electron dose as confirmed by the decay in peak intensity. Conversely, the peak position shifts at lower angle with increasing the electron dose. Structural factors including lattice parameter, dislocation density, cell volume, microstrain, as well as stacking fault have been found to change due to electron beam irradiation. We employed the Debey-Scherrer formula (D-S), Size Strain Plot method (SSP), and Halder Wagner (H-W) methods to determine the crystal size and strain of purified and irradiated BiOBr nanoplates. It has been found that the size of the crystallites increases nonlinearly as the irradiation dose increases. All three of the aforementioned calculation methods have observed this trend. Strain and dislocation density exhibited the opposite trend of crystallite size, as they decreased as the irradiation dose increased. The dislocation density, strain, and crystallite size values are nearly identical for the SSP and H-W procedures, while the D-S method exhibits values with deviation. The tetragonal structure and the Raman active mode, which we have identified as closely resembling those in other literature of this composition, are discussed in the respective section. Because of their intriguing phase strength, the synthesized nanoplates may be suitable for the degradation of organic pollutants and the separation of water through photo-electrocatalysis.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation and Electron Beam Irradiation on the Quality of Vacuum-Packed Ready-to-Eat Chicken Claws during Storage at 25 ± 1 °C

Effect of Gamma Irradiation and Electron Beam Irradiation on the Quality of Vacuum-Packed Ready-to-Eat Chicken Claws during Storage at 25 ± 1 °C

Effect of electron beam irradiation treatment on microstructure, physicochemical properties, and bioactive content of areca nut.

Electron beam irradiation treatment is a novel technology that uses low-dose ionizing radiation for the treatment of crops or food to enhance their quality. This study investigated the effects of electron beam irradiation on the microstructure, physicochemical properties, and bioactive compounds of areca nuts. As the irradiation dose increased, the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content in the areca nuts decreased significantly, whereas the polysaccharide and pectin content increased gradually. The hardness, chewiness, and adhesiveness of areca nuts reached their lowest values when the irradiation dose was within the range of 6-9 kGy, indicating that irradiation effectively reduced the hardness of the areca nut fibers. The decrease in crystallinity led to the formation of loose structures in the fibers upon irradiation, thereby improving their water retention, expansion, and oil-holding capacity, which are beneficial for the subsequent processing of areca nut-based chewable products. The water- and oil-holding capacities of the areca nuts peaked when the irradiation dose was within the 6-9 kGy range. Electron irradiation also affected the content of active substances in the areca nuts, particularly alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, showing an overall trend of initial increase followed by subsequent decrease. Electron irradiation was not only effective in softening the fibers but it also impacted the overall quality of the areca nuts significantly. The results provide valuable reference data for improving the quality of areca nuts through electron beam irradiation technology. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Improvement on gel properties of chicken myofibrillar protein with electron beam irradiation: Based on protein structure, gel quality, water state

This study aimed to investigate the effects of electron beam (E-beam) irradiation at different doses (0–15 kGy) on the solubility, rheological properties, emulsification characteristics, and moisture distribution of chicken myofibrillar proteins (MPs). Irradiation treatment notably increased the solubility, surface hydrophobicity, emulsification properties, and apparent viscosity of MPs, based on conformational changes caused by irradiation-induced oxidative denaturation of proteins. However, high doses of irradiation (15 kGy) induced in excessive cross-linking and aggregation of proteins, reducing the solubility, emulsification properties, and shear stress. Degradation of myosin heavy and light chains in irradiated MPs increased the content of β-turns and random coils. Additionally, the initial relaxation times of T21 and T22 in irradiated protein gels were reduced, and the peak value of P21 was increased, which improved the water-capturing ability of protein gels. Altogether, these results findings suggest that electron beam irradiation can be applied as a potential technique for modifying muscle proteins.

Effects of gamma and electron-beam irradiations on the stability of free radicals, bioactive compounds and microbial characteristics of turmeric powder

Turmeric is a functional ingredient commonly used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products due to its health benefits and bioactivity, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer benefits. Irradiation is a common technique used to decontaminate microorganisms and extend the shelf life of spices. However, there are scientific debates over the use of irradiation in food products. This study aimed to assess the effects of ionizing radiation, including gamma rays and electron beams, on bioactive compounds and microbial characteristics of turmeric powder. Technically, high-performance liquid chromatography with UV-Vis detection was used to assess bioactive compounds. Another aim of the present study was to determine free radicals in irradiated and non-irradiated samples within one month of storage using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Results showed that gamma and electron-beam irradiations could decrease microbial contamination of turmeric by approximately 5 and 6 log cfu/g, respectively. Contents of bioactive compounds increased in irradiated samples and curcumin contents in gamma and electron-beam irradiated samples were 232–248 and 215–266 mg/g dry weight (dw), respectively. Furthermore, the study detected that free radicals increased in all irradiated samples immediately after irradiation but decreased over time. Decrease in EPR signals was faster in gamma-irradiated samples during storage. Numbers of free radicals induced by gamma and electron-beam irradiations were 6.59–4.70, 2.69–1.60, 1.61–1.34, and 0.99–1.05 on days 0, 7, 14, and 21, respectively. After 21 days of storage, the numbers of free radicals in all non-irradiated and irradiated samples were similar. Therefore, free radicals induced by irradiations were degraded during storage and eliminated after 21 days.

Effect of electron beam irradiation pretreatment on the structural, physicochemical properties of potato starch-fatty acid complexes and the proliferation of Bifidobacterium adolescentis

The effects of different electron beam irradiation doses (5 KGy, 10 KGy, 20 KGy) on the complexation of potato starch with four saturated fatty acids with different chain lengths, i.e., lauric acid (LA), myristic acid (MA), palmitic acid (PA), and stearic acid (SA), were investigated, including structural properties, physicochemical properties, digestive properties, and the effect of Bifidobacteria proliferation. The complexing index increased significantly with increasing irradiation dose and showed the following order: 20 KGy > 10 KGy > 5 KGy > native starch. At irradiation dose of 20 KGy, PA (88.75 %) showed the highest complexing index, followed by MA (87.40 %), SA (82.95 %) and LA (72.33 %). The results of microstructure, relative crystallinity, gelatinization enthalpy, contact angle, and resistant starch content in starch-fatty acid complexes were consistent with the complexing index. In vitro digestion indicated that at irradiation dose of 20 KGy, the addition of PA yielded the highest content of resistant starch (50.35 %), followed by MA (49.25 %), SA (47.05 %) and LA (44.72 %). The four complexes were eventually assessed for their effects on Bifidobacteria's proliferation, with PA exerting the strongest proliferative effects, followed by MA, SA and LA. Overall, electron beam irradiation exhibited good application prospects in the field of starchy food processing and functional foods development.

Improvement of the electrochemical performance of Bi2O3 by electron beam irradiation

Improvement of the electrochemical performance of Bi2O3 by electron beam irradiation

Electron-beam irradiation of ZSM-5 catalyst with a designed sample holder: Simulation and experiment

A sample holder has been designed to achieve the uniform absorbed-dose distribution in electron-beam (EB) irradiated ZSM-5 catalyst. Simulated results, without considering the holder’s rotation, demonstrated that the holder configuration should be a cylinder hollow, while its dimensions are recommended to be 10–14 cm in outer radius, 7–8 mm in thickness, and 50–54mm in height. The holder’s rotational contribution to the simulated results was estimated to be less than 1%. An actual holder was fabricated based on this design. Steamed ZSM-5 catalyst (∼32 g) was used to verify the catalytic cracking performance of the sample under EB irradiation. The irradiating experiment was conducted using the fabricated holder, with the 10 MeV EB and a fluence of 8×1014 e.cm−2 (257 kJ). The catalytic cracking experiments indicated that most catalytic productions strongly increased with low heavy cycle oil (HCO) yield when irradiated ZSM-5 was used instead of steamed non-irradiated sample. Excellent increases were simultaneously found, for the first time, for propylene (∼24%) and gasoline (∼15%) productions. Irradiated sample also exhibited superior stability compared to non-irradiated one.

Evaluation of electron beam irradiation on the microbiological, phytochemicals, and aromatic profiles of three paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties

Evaluation of electron beam irradiation on the microbiological, phytochemicals, and aromatic profiles of three paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties

Study on dosimetric characteristics of polycarbonate films irradiated by electron beam

In this study, the dosimetric characteristics (thickness applicability, dose linear response, signal fading characteristic, in-batch consistency, readout reproducibility, humidity dependence, and electron energy response) of engineering polycarbonate films irradiated by electron beam were studied using spectrophotometry. The results show that polycarbonate films of various thicknesses exhibit good dose linearity within their corresponding wavelength ranges. Specifically, the dose capture range of 0.3 mm polycarbonate film spans from 950 Gy to 1000 kGy. After irradiation, the net absorbance of polycarbonate films showed an exponential decline, which was dose-dependent. The average absolute deviation of net absorbance for polycarbonate films produced within the same batch is 1.49% at 100 kGy. After 15 repeated absorbance measurements, the coefficient of variation in net absorbance for the polycarbonate films is less than 1%. Additionally, the radiation response of the polycarbonate film is affected by the environment relative humidity (during irradiation and post-irradiation storage). At the same dose of 3.5-20 MeV electron beam irradiation, the net absorbance response deviation of polycarbonate films remains below 2.26%. These results provide a comprehensive reference for detecting high doses of electron beams using engineering polycarbonate films.

Evaluation of Post-Processing on Additive Manufactured Bioresorbable Polymers for Medical Devices.

Additive manufacturing (AM) has seen massive growth in the medical device sector and an increase in the clearance of devices. Many challenges still exist in the design, development, and clinical use of AM-fabricated devices, notably the processing, annealing, and sterilization of resorbable polymers. In addition, the use of these materials continues to grow in medical devices and scaffold technologies for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM). Specifically, this study focused on the scaffold mechanical properties post-processing and throughout a simulated resorption (in vitro) study. Herein, we evaluated three (3) materials that span a range of mechanical properties and degradation rates relating to a range of tissue healing rates and mechanical properties affording the opportunity of biomimetic potentials, Caproprene 100M, Lactoflex 7415, and Lactoprene 100M. These bioresorbable polymers were additively manufactured into scaffold forms of Type V tensile bars to investigate post-processing parameters. A range of heat treatments were then performed after the AM process to induce a range of semicrystalline morphologies, and subsequently, two different sterilization techniques were performed, one based on super critical carbon dioxide and another using electron beam radiation. It was statistically shown that the heat treatment parameters and the sterilization method had statistically significant effects on the scaffold properties of each material. While material differences were responsible for the majority of the mechanical property breadth, techniques utilizing analysis of variance allowed the observation of significant effects and interactions associated with heat treatment, sterilization, and material parameters (alpha = 0.05). The characterization of the sample groups provided insight into the process-structure-property-performance relationships of the resorbable scaffold samples. It was established that the post-processing impacted the scaffold structures, and therefore, sterilization and heat treatment selections should be included within initial design considerations alongside material selection as critical for device development, especially when AM bioresorbable scaffolds for TERM.

In- vitro evaluation of blood bags based on poly(vinyl chloride)/ selenium nanocomposites and exposed to electron beam irradiation

In- vitro evaluation of blood bags based on poly(vinyl chloride)/ selenium nanocomposites and exposed to electron beam irradiation

Atomic Fabrication of 2D Materials Using Electron Beams Inside an Electron Microscope.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered increasing attention due to their unusual properties and significant potential applications in electronic devices. However, the performance of these devices is closely related to the atomic structure of the material, which can be influenced through manipulation and fabrication at the atomic scale. Transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) and scanning TEMs (STEMs) provide an attractive platform for investigating atomic fabrication due to their ability to trigger and monitor structural evolution at the atomic scale using electron beams. Furthermore, the accuracy and consistency of atomic fabrication can be enhanced with an automated approach. In this paper, we briefly introduce the effect of electron beam irradiation and then discuss the atomic structure evolution that it can induced. Subsequently, the use of electron beams for achieving desired structures and patterns in a controllable manner is reviewed. Finally, the challenges and opportunities of atomic fabrication on 2D materials inside an electron microscope are discussed.

Degradation of piroxicam and celecoxib from aqueous solution by high-energy electron beam as a Sustainable method

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs that can reduce pain. This study aimed to measure the concentration of piroxicam and celecoxib in Iranian hospitals, as well as the effect of electron beam irradiation on the degradation of these pollutants in synthetic and real samples. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect the residual analytes in the samples. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to design the experiment conditions that investigate the effect of electron beam irradiation on degradation of piroxicam and celecoxib from synthetic samples, and then according to the optimum condition, the experiments were carried out for real wastewater samples. The results of wastewater analysis shown that the mean concentration of PIRO and CELE were 6.32 ± 2.5 and 11.5 ± 3.2 μg/L, respectively. Also, the findings show that 98.98 % and 97.62 % of piroxicam and celecoxib was degraded, respectively, when the optimum conditions (pH = 4, electron beam irradiation = 8 kGy, and concentrations of 60 μg/L for piroxicam and 50 μg/L for celecoxib) were applied. Results show that the degradation rates of piroxicam and celecoxib in the real wastewater sample at optimum condition were 89.6 % and 84.25 %, respectively. So, electron beam irradiation is a long-lasting and promising method for removal emerging contaminants from wastewater, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, that can't be removed by conventional wastewater treatment methods; so, it can be used in combination with conventional wastewater treatment methods.

Modification of the Structure, Phase Composition, and Properties of an Intermetallic-Matrix Composite by Low-Energy High-Current Electron Beam Irradiation

Modification of the Structure, Phase Composition, and Properties of an Intermetallic-Matrix Composite by Low-Energy High-Current Electron Beam Irradiation

Optimizing Electron‐Beam Photothermal Pyrolysis Parameters for Enhanced Molecular Biodegradability of Polyvinyl Chloride Plastics

AbstractPolyvinyl chloride (PVC), a synthetic plastic notable for harmful emissions during deterioration, has potential to be molecularly adjusted by photo‐oxidative ultraviolet degradation. This research investigates the influence of electron beam irradiation and near‐infrared photothermal treatment utilizing gold nanoparticles to establish the optimized molecular weight and beam time exposure for biodegradable PVC properties while maintaining a minimum tensile strength as measured through the ratio of peak tension force by cross sectional area. PVC powder samples with number‐average molecular weights ranging from 20.0 to 90.0 kDa and varying exposure times of a 100 kGy electron beam from 80 to 115 ms are employed for the study. Outcomes from PVC irradiation reveal the optimal parameters for inducing biodegradability in samples: an e‐beam exposure duration of 95 ms applied to PVC powder with a sample molecular weight of 20.0 kDa. Analysis of the ratio of number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight demonstrates that shorter irradiation durations result in lower molecular weights and molecular weight is directly proportional to Tg and crystallinity. Future work aims to scale up the procedure to industrial applications and investigate the treatment's applicability to a variety of thermoplastics.

Atomic-scale probing of ion migration dynamics in Na3Ni2SbO6 cathode for sodium ion batteries

Honeycomb-layered phases like Na3Ni2SbO6 have been extensively researched as high-voltage and high-rate capability cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. However, our understanding of the structural stability and dynamic reaction mechanisms of Na3Ni2SbO6 cathode during cycling, especially at atomic-scale, remains limited. Here, we track the microstructure evolution during extraction of Na+ ions in Na3Ni2SbO6 cathode at atomic scale in an aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope. The electron beam irradiation that can provide a driving force for the Na+ ion migration, allows us to mimic the battery charge process. By controlling the electron beam dose, we study the structure evolution behavior to obtain insights into understanding the work principle and failure mechanism of Na3Ni2SbO6 cathode under different charge rate conditions. We find that the real-time structural evolution and ion migration pathways of Na3Ni2SbO6 cathode are distinct under different electron beam doses. High-dose irradiation reveals Na ion depletion, surface cracks, and phase transformations, mimicking rapid capacity decay. In contrast, low-dose irradiation shows slower ion migration, ordered Na vacancy formation, and maintaining structural integrity, which more closely resembles the electrochemical process of actual battery. This study provides an atomistic understanding of the structural stability and Na ions deintercalation mechanism in Na3Ni2SbO6 cathodes, offering new insights into optimizing electrode materials.

Improving storage duration of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) through electron beam technology.

Electron beam (EB) technology typically consists of high-energy electron streams produced by a linear accelerator. Although promising, the use of EB irradiation as a technique to delay ripening and prevent spoilage in tomatoes has not been extensively investigated. In this study, the effectiveness of EB irradiation in prolonging the shelf life of tomatoes postharvest was investigated. The results indicated that EB irradiation successfully reduced microbial contamination and decay, preserved key quality attributes (such as total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, and firmness), and significantly minimized weight loss. Notably, the treatment delayed the biosynthesis of lycopene, a key indicator of ripening, without adversely affecting phenolic content and antioxidant activity, which remained consistent regardless of irradiation. Additionally, different methods for detecting irradiation were evaluated. Thermoluminescence analysis proved to be the most dependable technique, especially for doses exceeding 600Gy, due to its high sensitivity and specificity. In contrast, photostimulated luminescence and electron spin resonance analyses showed limitations in accurately identifying the irradiation status of foods with high moisture content, such as tomatoes. This study confirms that EB irradiation, while maintaining postharvest quality, extends the shelf life of tomatoes by 5-10days, suggesting its potential for commercial application in food preservation.

Two-Dimensional MoS2-Based Anisotropic Synaptic Transistor for Neuromorphic Computing by Localized Electron Beam Irradiation.

Neuromorphic computing, a promising solution to the von Neumann bottleneck, is paving the way for the development of next-generation computing and sensing systems. Axon-multisynapse systems enable the execution of sophisticated tasks, making them not only desirable but essential for future applications in this field. Anisotropic materials, which have different properties in different directions, are being used to create artificial synapses that can mimic the functions of biological axon-multisynapse systems. However, the restricted variety and unadjustable conductive ratio limit their applications. Here, it is shown that anisotropic artificial synapses can be achieved on isotropic materials with externally localized doping via electron beam irradiation (EBI) and purposefully induced trap sites. By employing the synapses along different directions, artificial neural networks (ANNs) are constructed to accomplish variable neuromorphic tasks with optimized performance. The localized doping method expands the axon-multisynapse device family, illustrating that this approach has tremendous potentials in next-generation computing and sensing systems.