Especially geopolymers are novel environmental friendly materials, with promises of considerable progress in the near future. These materials, with unique physical, chemical and mechanical properties can be used for many different applications. They are produced by using waste-products from the industry, and turning them into a high value construction material needed for infrastructure developments.

The annealing of radiation-induced defects in burn-in stressed n-channel power VDMOSFETs with thick gate oxides (100 and 120 nm) is analysed. In comparison with the previous spontaneous recovery, the changes of device electrical parameters observed during annealing are highlighted by the elevated temperature and voltage applied to the gate, and are more pronounced in devices with a 120 nm thick gate oxide. The threshold voltage of VDMOSFETs with a 100 nm thick gate oxide during annealing has an initially slow growth, but then increases rapidly and reaches the value higher than the pre-irradiation one (rebound effect). In the case of devices with a 120 nm thick gate oxide, the threshold voltage behaviour also consists of a slight initial increase followed by a rapid, but dilatory increase, with an obvious tendency to achieve the rebound. The changes of channel carrier mobility during annealing are similar in all samples: at first, it slowly and then rapidly declines, and after reaching the minimum it begins to increase. In the case of VDMOSFETs with a thicker gate oxide, these changes are much slower. The underlying changes in the densities of gate oxide-trapped charge and interface traps are also delayed in devices with a thicker gate oxide. All these phenomena occur with certain delay in burn-in stressed devices compared to unstressed ones. The leading role in the mechanisms responsible for the observed phenomena is attributed to hydrogen related species

A new, simple, rapid, sensitive and selective kinetic spectrophotometric method for Pd(II) traces determination was elaborated in this paper. It is based on the catalytic effect of palladium ions upon the oxidation of methylene blue B (MBB) by (NH 4) 2 S 2 O 8 (APS) in citric buffer (BUF) solution. At the working temperature of 25 °C and the wavelength of 662.4 nm, the optimal conditions for palladium determination were found. RSD value was found to be 2.6 to 4.9% for the investigated concentration range of Pd(II). Limit of detection (LD) was found to be 2.0 ng cm-3 Pd(II), and limit of quantification (LQ) is 6.9 ng cm-3 Pd(II). Only the presence of Pb 2+ , Hg 2+ and Sn 2+ in the reaction mixture interferes the determination of palladium by this method, while Au 3+ and Ag + have the catalytic effect upon the reaction rate. By this method, it is possible to determine the Pd(II) traces in the concentration range of 3.3×10-8 to 1.0×10-6 g cm-3. The method was confirmed by determination of Pd(II) traces in alloy PtRhG as well as in the powder of Pt. The obtained results were compared to those obtained by ICP-OES method and good agreement of results was found.

Nowadays, it is possible to implement and realize solutions that once seemed inconceivable. Namely, the development of novel technologies allows the implementation of creative ideas, as well as new approach to building design. The use of the state of the art technology offers the application of functional high-tech coatings and building claddings. Hence, a new generation of plastic-ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is increasingly used in buildings and architectural structures. The use of ETFE is increased due to its very low weight, high transparency potential and possibility to control the utilization of daylight in buildings, as well as due to self-sufficient performances and low environmental load. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome a lack of information on some advantages of this environmentally friendly material. In this paper, the properties and possibilities of applications of ETFE are presented. It increasingly replaces traditional glazing and enables the implementation of creative solutions due to its performance and possibility of advancing sustainable construction. This could contribute to sustainable development and to the prevention of the negative influence to climate change.