Dynamics of a large spin with strong dissipation

We study the generalization of the spin-boson model to spins greater than one-half in the strong-coupling regime. This model applies to dissipative large spins as well as to ensembles of identical two-state systems coupled to a common environment. Using a combination of polaron transformations and master equations, we find nonexponential spin relaxation towards one of two possible equilibrium states. For Ohmic dissipation the relaxation is approximately logarithmic in time.     

Hybrid lipid bilayers in nanostructured silicon: a biomimetic mesoporous scaffold for optical detection of cholera toxin

Cholera toxin levels are optically detected by affinity capture within hybrid lipid bilayer membranes formed in the nanostructures of porous silicon photonic crystals.     

Biomimetic oxidation of plant protecting agents

The suitability of two in vitro oxidation systems as chemical models for the biological degradation of plant protecting agents has been investigated. As representative herbicides diclofop, fenoxaprop, isoproturon, linuron and monolinuron have been oxidised by two systems, the Fentons' reagent and the ascorbic acid oxidation system (AAOS) and the results compared to those of the known metabolic pathways of these compounds. The herbicides have been oxidised by Fentons' reagent (hydroxy radicals). The main products were isolated by preparative scale HPLC and identified with (1)H-NMR and MS. Some of the products have been identified by comparing their retention times and UV/Vis-spectra to those of standard compounds. Several products known from biological degradation are also found after chemical oxidation, however, notable differences between the two pathways have been observed, for instance in the case of diclofop. Oxidation by the AAOS leads to comparable results. Reaction rates for the oxidation with the AAOS have been studied and compared with data known from degradation studies of the herbicides in soil. Compounds which are slowly degraded in soil are oxidised more slowly in the biomimetic process than those with a fast degradation in soil.     

Radiation damage to alkyl chain monolayers on semiconductor substrates investigated by electron spectroscopy

Monolayers of alkyl chains, attached through direct Si-C bonds to Si(111), via phosphonates to GaAs(100) surfaces, or deposited as alkyl-silane monolayers on SiO2, are investigated by ultraviolet and inverse photoemission spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from a He discharge lamp, or to a beam of energetic electrons, leads to significant damage, presumably associated with radiation- or electron-induced H-abstraction leading to carbon-carbon double-bond formation in the alkyl monolayer. The damage results in an overall distortion of the valence spectrum, in the appearance of (occupied) states above the highest occupied molecular orbital of the alkyl molecule, and in a characteristic (unoccupied state) pi resonance at the edge of the carbon absorption peak. These distortions present a serious challenge for the interpretation of the electronic structure of the monolayer system. We show that extrapolation to zero damage at short exposure times eliminates extrinsic features and allows a meaningful extraction of the density of state of the pristine monolayer from spectroscopy measurements.     

Thiol-terminated monolayers on oxide-free Si: assembly of semiconductor-alkyl-S-metal junctions

Self-assembled monolayers formed by thermal hydrosilylation of a trifluoroacetyl-protected alkenylthiol on Si-H surfaces, followed by removal of the protecting groups, yield essentially oxide-free monolayers suitable for the formation of Si-C11H22-S-Hg and Si-C11H22-S-Au junctions in which the alkyl chains are chemically bound to the silicon surface (via Si-C bonds) and the metal electrode (via Hg-S or Au-S bonds). Two barriers to charge transport are present in the system: at low bias the current is temperature activated and hence limited by thermionic emission over the Schottky barrier in the silicon, whereas as at high bias transport is limited by tunneling through the organic monolayer. The thiol-terminated monolayer on oxide-free silicon provides a well-characterized system allowing a careful study of the importance of the interfacial bond to the metal electrode for current transport through saturated molecules.     

Quantitative determination of four nitrofuran metabolites in meat by isotope dilution liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry

A confirmatory method based on isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been developed for the low-level determination of residues of four nitrofuran veterinary drugs in meat, e.g., furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurantoin, and nitrofurazone. The procedure entails an acid-catalysed release of protein-bound metabolites, followed by their in situ conversion into the 2-nitrobenzaldehyde (NBA) imine-type derivatives. Liquid-liquid extraction and clean-up on a polymeric solid phase extraction cartridge are then performed before LC-MS/MS analysis by positive electrospray ionisation (ESI) applying multiple reaction monitoring of three transition reactions for each compound. Reliable quantitation is obtained by using one deuterated analogue per analyte (d4-NBA derivative) as internal standard (IS). Validation of the method in chicken meat was conducted following the European Union (EU) criteria for the analysis of veterinary drug residues in foods. The decision limits (CCalpha) were 0.11-0.21 microg/kg, and the detection capabilities (CCbeta) 0.19-0.36 microg/kg, thus below the minimum required performance limit (MRPL) set at 1 microg/kg by the EU. The method is robust and suitable for routine quality control operations, and more than 200 sample injections were performed without excessive pollution of the mass spectrometer or loss of LC column performance.     

Demonstration of the importance of oxygenated species at the ends of carbon nanotubes for their favourable electrochemical properties

Definitive evidence is presented for the favourable electrochemical properties of carbon nanotube modified electrodes arising from the ends of SWNTs due to oxygenated carbon species in general, and carboxylic acid moieties in particular, produced during acid purification.     

Structural characterization of organic multilayers on silicon(111) formed by immobilization of molecular films on functionalized Si-C linked monolayers

Silicon(111)-H surfaces were derivatized with omega-functionalized alkenes in UV-mediated and thermal hydrosilylation reactions to give Si-C linked monolayers. Additional molecular layers of organic compounds were coupled either directly or via linker molecules to the functionalized alkyl monolayers. In the first instance, amino-terminated monolayers were prepared from a tert-butoxycarbonyl-protected omega-aminoalkene followed by removal of the protecting group. Various thiols were coupled to the monolayer using a heterobifunctional linker, which introduced maleimide groups onto the surface. In the second system, N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester-terminated monolayers were formed by reaction of Si-H with N-succinimidyl undecenoate. The reactivity of the NHS ester groups was confirmed by further modification of the monolayer. The stepwise assembly of these multilayer structures was characterized by X-ray reflectometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.     

Der Phasenübergang C-Typ-PrO1.50 → A-Typ-PrO1.50

Zusammenfassung Durch thermodilatometrische und DTA-Untersuchungen wurde das thermische Verhalten von C-Typ-PrO_1.50, A-Typ-PrO_1.50 und PrO_1.833 im Temperaturintervall von Raumtemperatur bis 1200 °C in Luft und Wasserstoff-Atmosphäre untersucht. Die Temperatur des Phasenüberganges C-PrO_1.50 A-PrO_1.50 wurde zu 790±10 °C gefunden. C-PrO_1.50 ist nur unterhalb der Umwandlungstemperatur beständig, A-PrO_1.50 im gesamten untersuchten Temperaturbereich. PrO_1.833 geht oberhalb von 400 °C, in Luft erhitzt, über mehrere definierte oxidische Zwischenphasen in A-PrO_1.50 über.

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The thermal behaviour of C-type PrO_1.50, A-type PrO_1.50 and PrO_1.833 was investigated by thermodilatometric and DTA measurements in the temperature range from 20 to 1200 °C in air and in a hydrogen atmosphere. The phase transition C-type PrO_1.50 A-type PrO_1.50 proceeds at 790±10 °C; C-type PrO_1.50 is stable only below this temperature, but A-type PrO_1.50 in the whole range. Pro_1.833 is stable up to 400 °C at atmospheric pressure. When heated further it decomposes stepwise forming several defined intermediate oxide phases.

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Résumé On a étudié par thermodilatométrie et ATD le comportement thermique de PrO_1.50-type C, PrO_1.50-type A, et PrO_1.833, dans le domaine de température allant jusqu'à 1200 °C, dans l'air et en atmosphère d'hydrogène. On a trouvé 790±10° comme température de la transition de phase C-PrO_1.50/A-PrO_1.50. C-PrO_1.50 n'est stable qu'au-dessous de la température de conversion, alors que A-PrO_1.50 l'est dans tout le domaine de température examiné. PrO_1.833 chauffé dans l'air se transforme au-dessus de 400 °C en donnant plusieurs phases intermédiaires d'oxydes définis avant A-PrO_1.50.

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PrO_1.50, PrO_1.50 PrO_1.833, 20–1200° . PrO_1.50 PrO_1.50 790±10°; PrO_1.50 ; PrO_1.50 PrO_1.833 400° . , , .

     

The surface photopolymerization of perfluorobenzene and photocopolymerization of perfluorobenzene/benzene: A possible model for plasma polymerization

ESCA has been used to characterize films deposited from perfluorobenzene and perfluorobenzene/benzene vapors during plasma polymerization and irradiation with vacuum ultraviolet light. The films deposited by both methods are shown to be essentially the same. This indicates that similar electronically excited states are involved in the formation of the precursors to deposition in both methods and that reaction mechanisms involving ions do not need to be considered for the plasma polymerization of the monomers investigated.