Adsorption and Desorption of Triton X-100 in Polystyrene Particles with Different Functionality

An experimental desorption study of Triton X-100 from latices with different functionality is presented. Two different strategies to follow the desorption experiment have been used: first, a discontinuous method based on the wash step (centrifugation-removal-redispersion); and second, a continuous method based on the replacement of the disperse media. The desorption results show that in all cases a residual amount of Triton X-100 remains adsorbed, indicating irreversibility of the surfactant adsorption. Finally, the effect of desorption on the colloidal stability of one type of latex-surfactant complex has been analyzed. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

An EPR study of Er3+ impurities in RbTiOPO4 single crystals

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study of Er³⁺ ions in single crystals of RbTiOPO₄ (RTP) is presented. The EPR spectra show the existence of six different Er³⁺ centres. The g-matrix has been determined for these centres from the analysis of the angular dependences of the spectrum in three planes of the crystal. The study supports that erbium can enter the Rb⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ low-symmetry sites of RTP. This conclusion differs from those for KTP:Er³⁺ and RTP codoped with Nb and Er. The different occupancies found for Er in these various crystals is suggested to be due to the differences in Er concentration.     

Ferromagnetic transition in ordered double perovskites and related alloys

We study the electronic and magnetic properties of ordered perovskites Sr ₂FeMO₆ (where M is a transition metal), among which some compounds, like Sr₂FeMoO₆ are half-metallic with high Curie temperature while Sr₂FeWO₆ is an antiferromagnetic insulator. Using a double exchange type model with an interaction between localized spins and conduction electrons together with a tight-binding Hamiltonian and the renormalized perturbation expansion method, we study the behavior of T_c as a function of the number of conduction electrons and also as a function of the Fe-M energy difference. We also consider the Sr₂FeMo_xW_1-xO₆ compounds which present a magnetic and metal-insulator transition as a function of doping.     

Effect of the La(OH)3 preparation method on the surface and rehydroxylation properties of resulting La2O3 nanoparticles

In the present study, for the first time, Cu₃N/NiTiCu/Si heterostructures were successfully grown using magnetron sputtering technique. Nanocrystalline copper nitride (Cu₃N with thickness ~200 nm) thin films and copper nanodots were subsequently deposited on the surface of 2-μm-thick NiTiCu shape memory thin films in order to improve the surface corrosion and nickel release properties of NiTiCu thin films. Interestingly, the phase transformation from martensite phase to austenite phase has been observed in Cu₃N/NiTiCu heterostructures with corresponding change in texture and surface morphology of top Cu₃N films. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope images of the heterostructures reveals the formation of 20-nm-sized copper nanodots on NiTiCu surface at higher deposition temperature (450 °C) of Cu₃N. Cu₃N passivated NiTiCu films possess low corrosion current density with higher corrosion potential and, therefore, better corrosion resistance as compared to pure NiTiCu films. The concentration of Ni released from the Cu₃N/NiTiCu samples was observed to be much less than that of pure NiTiCu film. It can be reduced to the factor of about one-ninth after the surface passivation resulting in smooth, homogeneous and highly corrosion resistant surface. The antibacterial and cytotoxicity of pure and Cu₃N coated NiTiCu thin films were investigated through green fluorescent protein expressing E. coli bacteria and human embryonic kidney cells. The results show the strong antibacterial property and non cytotoxicity of Cu₃N/NiTiCu heterostructure. This work is of immense technological importance due to variety of BioMEMS applications.