Therefore, several techniques have been applied to exploit most of the energy spectrum (visible region) which is about 40% of the total energy 12. However, owing to their wide band gap (i.e., 3.2 eV for anatase and 3.0 eV for rutile), TiO 2 absorb mainly UV light which is only 4% of the entire solar spectrum on earth 11. It has potential applications in decomposition of organic pollutants 7, 8 water splitting 9 and photo energy conversion 10, etc. TiO 2 has been extensively used as a photocatalytic material due to its significant photostability, environmentally friendliness, high chemical stability, non-toxicity and low-cost 6. Photolysis of organic containments has paid a great attention in environmental cleaning and water purification 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. This work provides a new insight to design such a structure which may lead to a range of novel applications. ![]() Moreover, the biomorphic Ag-TiO 2 showed more absorption capability in the visible wavelength range. This high-performance photocatalytic activity of the biomorphic Ag-TiO 2 may be attributed to the nano-holes structure, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) property of the Ag nanoparticles, and enhanced electron-hole separation. The biomorphic Ag-TiO 2 with nano-holes structure showed superior photocatalytic activity compared to the biomorphic TiO 2 and commercial Degussa P25. It was observed that the biomorphic Ag-TiO 2 showed remarkable photocatalytic activity by degradation of methyl blue (MB) under UV-vis light irradiation. The Ag nanoparticles (10 nm–25 nm) were homogeneously decorated on the surface and to the side wall of nano-holes structure. The nano-holes array structure was well maintained after calcination in air at 500 ☌. "In a couple weeks, when we have a better sample size, then we can draw some conclusions," he said.The negative replica of biomorphic TiO 2 with nano-holes structure has been effectively fabricated directly from nano-nipple arrays structure of cicada wings by using a simple, low-cost and highly effective sol-gel ultrasonic method. "Deeper cicada holes should influence the soil water infiltration rate because these holes/tunnels act as 'highways' that rapidly transport water from the surface to the subsurface," Ficklin said.Īlthough the research has begun, Ficklin said last week that it was too early to make an assessment. Any of the holes that are deeper than a few inches "can be very curvy," Keith explained in an email. Digging up notes from 17 years agoĪccording to biologist Keith Clay, a distinguished professor emeritus from Indiana University who studied the cicadas in 2004 and again this year, cicada grubs usually dig holes up to 1 or 2 feet down in the soil, sometimes reaching 3 or more feet in depth. But other factors - including compaction, tree roots and other burrowing holes - will influence the rates, he said. Once the rings are in place, both areas will be totally saturated with water and then studied for how the water travels through the soil.įicklin expects there will be a higher infiltration rate where there are holes created by the cicadas. One ring will be inserted in an area where there are a large number of emergence holes and another ring will be inserted in an area without any visual cicada emergence. ![]() The team can perform measurements for about two sites each day, he said.Īt each test site the researchers insert two infiltration rings that are 5.68 inches across. Currently, Ficklin and his assistants are on the IU campus locating holes mainly under tree canopies where the recent heavy rains and other factors haven't affected the holes.įor each of the areas, Ficklin and his research assistants will set up and test about 10 sites. The first study area was in the IU Research and Teaching Preserve near Lake Griffy, north of Bloomington, with hopes of finding areas with and without emergence holes on the IU campus and in an agricultural area. I want to see if the 'speed limit' changes when these emergence holes are present." Studying the Brood X landscapeįicklin's plan is to study wooded, urban and agricultural areas. ![]() "It can take on only so much water at a time. "Every soil has a speed limit," he explained. With his research, he hopes to determine if the emergence holes affect the water infiltration rates of soil. But Ficklin is most interested in hydrology and how water moves through various types of soil.
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