Viscosity dependence of electrochemical etching for gold tip fabrication

We suggest an electrochemical etching method with viscous etchant to enhance the sharpness of tip of scanning probe microscope. The viscosity of the etchant mixed with HCl solution and glycerol was used as a control parameter in addition to the voltage applied to the tip. In order to improve the sharpness of the tip, a nano-scale meniscus formed between the end of the tip and the liquid level was used. The shapes, aspect ratios, and radii of tips were measured depending on the concentration of the etchant. It was found that the tip etched with the mixed liquid with glycerol was sharper than the tip with the pure HCl solution. This can be explained by the fact that the meniscus formed by viscous liquid is maintained with a thinner diameter and causes final etching until the meniscus bridge is ruptured.     

Etched ZIF-8 as a Filler in Mixed-Matrix Membranes for Enhanced CO2/N2 Separation

Zeolite ZIF-8 has been etched with acid to form microporous ZIF-8-E crystals. These were then introduced into a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane matrix to enhance its CO₂/N₂ separation performance. Open through pores of size about 100 nm formed in the ZIF-8 crystals allow the ingrowth of polyethersulfone chains, ensuring a reduction in the number of nonselective voids, thereby achieving better interaction between ZIF-8-E and PES. As a result, the CO₂/N₂ separation performance of the ZIF-8-E/PES membrane increased significantly, showing a CO₂ permeability of 15.7 Barrer and a CO₂/N₂ ideal selectivity of 6.5.     

A mass conservative well‐balanced reconstruction at wet/dry interfaces for the Godunov‐type shallow water model

This paper presents a novel mass conservative, positivity preserving wetting and drying treatment for Godunov‐type shallow water models with second‐order bed elevation discretization. The novel method allows to compute water depths equal to machine accuracy without any restrictions on the time step or any threshold that defines whether the finite volume cell is considered to be wet or dry. The resulting scheme is second‐order accurate in space and keeps the C‐property condition at fully flooded area and also at the wet/dry interface. For the time integration, a second‐order accurate Runge–Kutta method is used. The method is tested in two well‐known computational benchmarks for which an analytical solution can be derived, a C‐property benchmark and in an additional example where the experimental results are reproduced. Overall, the presented scheme shows very good agreement with the reference solutions. The method can also be used in the discontinuous Galerkin method. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence Du Rapport Atomique Ca/P Initial Sur La Synthèse Sous Atmosphère Humide D’apatite

Abstract

Le comportement sous atmosphère humide des mélanges initiaux de la calcite et du di-ammonium hydrogénophosphate à différents rapport atomique (Ca/P)_initiala été étudié. L’analyse par diffraction des rayons X (DRX) montre que les produits obtenus ont tous une structure apatitique. Il montre la présence à côté de celle de l’apatite, des raies identifiables à la calcite pour des rapports atomiques initiaux supérieurs à 1.50. Par ailleurs, la spectroscopie d’absorption infrarouge (IR) révèle dans les différents cas, la présence autre que les bandes attribuables aux ions PO₄ ^3?dans une apatite, des bandes à 875 cm^?1caractéristique des groupements HPO₄ ^2?dans une apatite déficiente en ion calcium. De même, le traitement thermique à 1000°C des poudres synthétisés a mis en évidence que les apatites formées sont non st?chiométriques. Les analyses chimiques montrent, par ailleurs, que lorsque le rapport atomique Ca/P du mélange initial est inférieur à 1.50, l’apatite formée a un rapport atomique Ca/P égal à 1.58. Par contre, lorsque le rapport Ca/P initial est supérieur à 1.50, le produit formé est biphasique et a un rapport atomique Ca/P de 1.62. Ce rapport est dû essentiellement à la présence d’un excès de CaCO₃dans le mélange initial (DRX, IR).

Mots clés Apatite; atmosphère humide; calcite; hydrothermal; synthèse

Abstract The behavior, in a humid atmosphere, of the initial mixtures of calcite and diammonium hydrogenophosphate at different atomic ratio (Ca/P) was studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that all the products obtained have apatite structure. For initial atomic ratios greater than 1.50, the XRD analysis shows the presence of reflections different from those of apatite, which may be attributed to calcite. Analysis by infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy allows to distinguish between the two cases: in addition to the presence of bands due to the PO₄ ^3?ions in apatite further bands at 875 cm^?1characteristic of HPO₄ ^2?in apatite deficient with respect to calcium ions are observed. Similarly, the powders synthesized by heat treatment at 1000°C showed that nonstoichiometric apatites are formed. Chemical analyses show, that when the atomic ratio Ca/P of the initial mixture is less than 1.50, the apatite formed has an atomic Ca/P ratio of 1.58. When the initial Ca/P ratio is greater than 1.50, the product formed is biphasic and has an atomic ratio Ca/P of 1.62. This result is mainly due to the presence of an excess of CaCO₃in the original mixture (XRD, IR).     

Acidified,Wet, Silica-Supported Tetrabutylammonium Periodate: A Convenient and Mild Reagent for Conversion of Thioamides to Their Corresponding Amides Under Solvent-Free Conditions

A series of thioamides are transformed to their corresponding oxo analogues in good to excellent yields with acidified, wet, silica-supported tetrabutylammonium periodate under solvent-free conditions.     

Study of indoor radon and thoron progeny levels in surrounding areas of Nalbari, Assam, India

With the growing understanding of the role of radon and its daughter products as major sources of radiation exposure, the importance of large number of estimation of radon concentration in various parts of the country is realized. Inhalation of radon, thoron and their decay products is the major source of the total radioactive dose received by the human population from natural radiation. The indoor radon and thoron progeny levels in Nalbari area of Assam are studied by using the LR-115 (type II) Solid State Nuclear Track Detector in Plastic Twin Chamber dosimeter. Radon and thoron progeny levels in different types of dwellings for one full calendar year are presented in this paper. For Assam Type (A.T.) houses, indoor radon progeny concentrations vary from 0.17 to 0.64 mWL with an annual geometric mean of 0.27 mWL and that for Reinforced Cement Concrete (R.C.C.) houses vary from 0.22 mWL to 0.60 mWL with the annual geometric mean of 0.37 mWL. The thoron progeny levels in A.T. houses also vary from 0.01 to of 0.05 mWL with an annual geometric mean of 0.02 mWL and that for R.C.C. houses vary from 0.02 to 0.08 mWL with the annual geometric mean of 0.04 mWL.      

Diamond kinoform hard X‐ray refractive lenses: design,nanofabrication and testing

Motivated by the anticipated advantageous performance of diamond kinoform refractive lenses for synchrotron X‐ray radiation studies, this report focuses on progress in designing, nanofabricating and testing of their focusing performance. The method involves using lift‐off and plasma etching to reproduce a planar definition of numerically determined kinoform refractive optics. Tests of the focusing action of a diamond kinoform refractive lens at the APS 8‐ID‐I beamline demonstrate angular control of the focal spot.     

Patterning Flexible Substrates Using Surface Relief Structures in Azobenzene Functionalized Polymer Films

A novel method for maskless micro-patterning of polymeric substrates is presented. First, an azobenzene functionalized polymer film is spin-coated on a Poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) sheet. Then surface relief structures are optically inscribed on the polymer film by interference of laser beams. The patterned azobenzene functionalized film is then etched in the plasma chamber such that the gratings are transferred to the PET substrate. Finally, any remaining azobenzene functionalized polymer is dissolved away using an appropriate solvent. This method of patterning can be broadly applied to a variety of flexible/polymeric substrates and the resolution is not limited by the substrate thermo-mechanical properties.