Polarization inscription in ferroelectric (111) PZT and (100) SBT films

Ferroelectric thin films form an equilibrium domain structure compatible with their respective crystallographic symmetry. In tetragonal (111) PZT, 90° domains prevail; in (pseudo-tetragonal) (100) SBT both 90° and 180° domains are present. The size of 90° domains has been measured for e.g., PZT as slabs of 15 nm width. Domain size is a result of stress minimization in the film during the paraelectric (PE) → ferroelectric (FE) transition. A precise and regular domain pattern for (111) PZT and (100) SBT films has been investigated in detail by TMSFM. Single domains can be addressed mechanically with the tip of an AFM. Such single domain switching corresponds to a data storage density of 200 Gbit/inch². Applications of ferroelectric and high- paraelectric materials for e.g., non-volatile data storage replacing DRAM devices or as sensors in infrared cameras are increasingly becoming popular.     

Rh(i)-catalyzed stereoselective desymmetrization of prochiral cyclohexadienones via highly exo-selective Huisgen-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition

A Rh(i)-catalyzed highly stereoselective desymmetrization of 2-alkynylbenzaldehyde-tethered cyclohexadienones triggered by intramolecular Huisgen-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition has been developed. This method enables convergent construction of complex epoxy-bridged polycyclic ring systems with five contiguous stereocenters with excellent exo-selectivity and broad substrate scope. The highly atom-economical process involves 6-endo-dig cyclization of carbonyl oxygen onto an activated alkyne resulting in a highly reactive metal–benzopyrylium intermediate, which readily undergoes intramolecular [3 + 2] annulation/hydration. Asymmetric induction is also achieved for the first time in Rh(i)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition using an easily accessible chiral diene as the ligand.

A Rh(i)-catalyzed highly stereoselective desymmetrization of 2-alkynylbenzaldehyde-tethered cyclohexadienones triggered by intramolecular Huisgen-type [3 + 2] cycloaddition has been developed.     

Ni+Pd+Ga and Ni+Pd+in liquid alloys: Enthalpies of formation

In order to fill the evident gap in the thermodynamic data of nickel-palladium-gallium and nickel-palladium-indium ternary alloys, the enthalpies of formation of these systems in the liquid state have been determined. This was achieved by means of a very high temperature calorimeter (T<1800 K), using the direct drop method, and based on analogous measurements of the respective binary alloys previously published. Complete automation of the calorimeter led to a good precision even at the highest temperatures. The enthalpies of formation of the ternary liquid alloys were measured between 1400 and 1600 K on the whole composition range. As in the limiting binary systems, enthalpies of formation are negative and non temperature dependent at any composition.

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Zusammenfassung Um die Lücke hinsichtlich thermodynamischer Daten von Nickel-Palladium-Gallium und Nickel-Palladium-Indium Legierungen zu füllen, wurden die Bildungsenthalpien dieser ternÄren Systeme im flüssigen Zustand bestimmt. Dies erfolgte mittels eines Kalorimeters für sehr hohe Temperaturen (T<1800 K), unter Verwendung der direkten Einwurfmethode auf der Basis früher veröffentlichter Messungen an den entsprechenden binÄren Systemen. Die Bildungsenthalpien der flüssigen ternÄren Legierungen wurden zwischen 1400 und 1600 K über den gesamten Zusammensetzungsbereich bestimmt. VollstÄndige Automation des Kalorimeters bewirkte hohe PrÄzision selbst bei den höchsten Temperaturen. Wie in den begrenzenden binÄren Systemen sind die Bildungsenthalpien negativ und bei allen Zusammensetzungen nicht temperaturabhÄngig.

     

Buffer layer effect in nanostructured tin electrodeposition on insulating and conducting substrates

The electroplating techniques for metal aggregates and films deposition commonly use an electric current to reduce metal ions in solution, but are restricted to conducting substrate. This new electrochemical technique permits coating of insulating or conducting substrates with metals having controlled aggregate size and growth speed. The basis of our approach is the progressive outward growth of the metal from an electrode in contact with the substrate, with the cell geometry chosen in such a way that the electron current providing the reduction passes through the growing deposit. The nanostructured deposit is composed of branched nanoaggregates from a quasi-continuous film to a more dendritic morphology dependant on current conditions. This approach has been used to elaborate tin electrodeposited thin films composed of a homogeneous distribution of nanoparticles on conducting or insulating substrates. In our works, when a non-continuous buffer gold coating is used, spontaneous mixing of tin atoms into AuSn nanoparticles takes place even at room temperature forming a nanostructured fractal film, if the substrate is conducting or insulating. Without a gold buffer layer, the deposit is composed of large pure tin micro-crystals with a large size distribution, less adapted to tin oxide nanoparticle formation. Indeed, from these tin metal deposits, the final goal is to elaborate functional nanostructured tin oxide films by oxidation for gas sensor applications.     

Electrochemical characterization and stress corrosion cracking behavior of α-brass in molybdate-containing electrolytes

One of the major challenges in material design is the achievement of reasonable operational efficiency through understanding the factors affecting the material’s performance particularly strength and service lifetime characteristics. In this work, the electrochemical behavior of 72Cu–28Zn α-brass alloy in Na₂MoO₄-containing electrolytes was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical frequency modulation techniques complemented with scanning electron microscopy. Also, stress corrosion cracking behavior of the alloy under both open-circuit potential and anodic applied potentials, using the slow strain rate technique, was evaluated. The results drawn from the different techniques are comparable.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of (−)-zeylenol,a key intermediate for the synthesis of (+)-pipoxide, (−)-uvarigranol G and (−)-tonkinenin A

Total synthesis of (?)-zeylenol, a key intermediate for the synthesis of (+)-pipoxide, (?)-uvarigranol G and (?)-tonkinenin A was achieved from commercially available starting material d-mannose. The key steps are mixed aldol condensation, Grignard reaction, ring closing metathesis and regioselective benzoylation.     

Synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of some novel tetrahydroquinoline derivatives bearing pyrazol and hydrazide moiety

A new series of tetrahydroquinoline derivatives having pyrazol and hydrazide moieties were synthesized for the purpose of anticancer cell line evaluation. Syntheses of these compounds were firstly achieved by one pot four reactions. The reaction of 3-amino-tetrahydro-1H-pyrazolo [3,4-b]quinolin with aldehydes, indoline-2,3-dione derivatives to give 9a-c , 11a-c , and 13a,b , respectively. In similar manner for biological comparison, the reactions of compound 5 with the same aldehydes and indoline-2,3-dione derivatives to give 19a-c and 20a-c . The newly synthesized compounds were examined in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 and A549 cancer cells. The compounds 11a-c and 20a-c showed promising activity as anticancer agents against HepG-2 and A549 cancer cells.     

Lateral electric field effects on quantum size confinement in cylindrical quantum dot under parabolic potential

Within the effective mass approximation, we investigated theoretically the ground-state energy of a single particle and the binding energy of the neutral donor impurity (D⁰) affected by a lateral electric field in a parabolic quantum dot (QD). The results show that the electron and the hole ground-state energy and the band to band transition energies shift to lower values (red shift) by increasing the field intensity. The quantum Stark shift (QSS) for the electron increases rapidly in the quasi spherical QD (QSQD) by increasing the lateral field, whereas for the hole it increases monotony. In the cylindrical QDs (CQDs), we found that the QSS for electron and hole increase monotonically. The quantum size, lateral electric field and impurity position effect on the binding energy of neutral donor (D⁰) is studied. Unexpected behavior of D⁰ in quantum well limit (QW), the binding energy of D⁰ is increasing (blue shift) with increasing QD radius R$R$ at the presence of a lateral electric field. It appears that for a fixed size of the QD, the off-center binding energy decreases when the impurity ion is displaced from the center to the QD borders, while it is shifted to lower energy with increasing the field.     

Stochastic thermal shock problem in generalized thermoelasticity

In this work, we consider the problem of a half space in the context of the theory of generalized thermoelasticity with one relaxation time. Realistically, the boundary conditions of the problem are considered to be stochastic. Laplace transform technique is used to solve the problem. The boundary conditions are considered to be of a type white noise. The inverse transforms are obtained in an approximate manner using asymptotic expansions valid for small values of time. Numerical results are given and represented graphically. Finally, a comparison with the ideal case when the boundary conditions are deterministic is carried out.