A wet-chemistry method was used to dope F- ions into crystalline TiO2 by hydrothermal treatment of TiF4 in an HCl solution. Field-emission electron microscope and transmission electron microscope images showed that the products exhibited a flowerlike morphology with a hollow interior. X-ray photoelectron spectroscope data demonstrated the doping of F in the lattice of crystalline TiO2. The flowerlike F-doped TiO2 hollow microspheres synthesized at 180 °C showed the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation. Ostwald ripening is the main reason responsible for the formation of the hollow interior of the F-doped TiO2 micropheres, and the HF species generated from the hydrothermal reaction is believed to accelerate the formation of the TiO2 hollow spheres.
As the chemical environment of semen can have a profound effect on sperm quality, we examined the effect of pH on the motility, viability and capacitation of human sperm. The sperm in this study was collected from healthy males to avoid interference from other factors. The spermatozoa cultured in sperm nutrition solution at pH 5.2, 6.2, 7.2 and 8.2 were analyzed for sperm total motility, progressive motility (PR), hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) rate, and sperm penetration. Our results showed that these parameters were similar in pH 7.2 and 8.2 sperm nutrition solutions, but decreased in pH 5.2 and 6.2 solutions. The HOS rate exhibited positive correlation with the sperm total motility and PR. In addition, the sperm Na+/K+-ATPase activity at different pHs was measured, and the enzyme activity was significantly lower in pH 5.2 and 6.2 media, comparing with that in pH 8.2 and pH 7.2 solutions. Using flow cytometry (FCM) and laser confocal scanning microscopy (LCSM) analysis, the intracellular Ca2+ concentrations of sperm cultured in sperm capacitation solution at pH 5.2, 6.2, 7.2 and 8.2 were determined. Compared with that at pH 7.2, the mean fluorescence intensity of sperm in pH 5.2 and 6.2 media decreased significantly, while that of pH 8.2 group showed no difference. Our results suggested that the declined Na+/K+-ATPase activity at acidic pHs result in decreased sperm movement and capacitation, which could be one of the mechanisms of male infertility.
A modified sol−gel method was employed to synthesize metal-doped TiO2 with varied dopant concentrations using titanium butoxide and metal nitrate hydrate as the precursors and hydrothermal posttreatment. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, TEM, BET, UV−vis/diffuse reflectance, PZC measurement, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and fluorescence lifetime, while the photocatalytic activities were tested using benzoic acid as the model compound. Ga-doped TiO2 exhibits the highest photoactivity among the prepared metal-doped TiO2 photocatalysts. This is most likely due to the good dispersion of Ga dopant onto the surface of TiO2, adequate surface area, and decrease of recombination center on the surface of Ga-doped TiO2 photocatalyst. The optimum dopant concentration was found to be 0.1 wt % for Ga-doped TiO2.
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