Structural, electrical and optical properties of ZnS films deposited by close-spaced evaporation

ZnS films have been deposited on glass substrates by close-spaced evaporation (CSE) technique. The films were grown at different temperatures in the range, 200-350 °C. The layers have been characterized with X-ray diffractometer (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) and optical spectrophotometer to evaluate the quality of the layers for photovoltaic applications. The studies showed that the optimum substrate temperature for the growth of ZnS layers was 300 °C. The films grown at these temperatures exhibited cubic structure with nearly stoichiometric composition. The AFM data revealed that the films had nano-sized grains with a grain size of ∼40 nm. The optical studies exhibited direct allowed transition with an energy band gap of 3.61 eV. The other structural and optical parameters such as lattice stress, dislocation density, refractive index and extinction coefficient were also evaluated. The temperature-dependent conductivity measured in the range, 303-523 K showed a change in the conduction mechanism at 120 °C. The activation energy values evaluated using the temperature dependence of electrical conductivity are 7 and 29 meV at low and high temperature regions, respectively.     

Comments on quasiparticle models of quark–gluon plasma

Here we comment on the thermodynamic inconsistency problem and the reformulation of statistical mechanics of widely studied quasiparticle models of quark–gluon plasma. Their starting relation, the expression for pressure itself is a wrong choice and lead to thermodynamic inconsistency and the requirements of the reformulation of statistical mechanics. We propose a new approach to the problem using the standard statistical mechanics and is thermodynamically consistent. We also show that the other quasiparticle models may be obtained from our general formalism as a special case under certain restrictive condition. Further, as an example, we have applied our model to explain the nonideal behaviour of gluon plasma and obtained a remarkable good fit to the lattice results by adjusting just a single parameter.     

Structural studies on ruthenium(II) complexes used in interphase catalysis for the hydrogenation of ketones

Structural studies were performed on catalytically active ruthenium(II) complexes used in interphases, by means of XAFS spectroscopy. The EXAFS investigations indicate that the complexes retain their structural integrity when they are embedded on polysiloxane matrices to form stationary phase materials. The AXAFS studies reveal that the variations in the catalytic activity of the complexes with different ligands can be correlated to the differences in the electronic structure around the active ruthenium center. The EXAFS investigations show that, in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation reactions catalysed by ruthenium(II) complexes, the co‐catalyst plays a crucial role not only in enhancing the catalytic activity, but also in determining the structure of the intermediate species. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anion mediated polytype selectivity among the basic salts of Co(II)

Basic salts of Co(II) crystallize in the rhombohedral structure. Two different polytypes, 3R₁ and 3R₂, with distinct stacking sequences of the metal hydroxide slabs, are possible within the rhombohedral structure. These polytypes are generated by simple translation of successive layers by (2/3, 1/3, z) or (1/3, 2/3, z). The symmetry of the anion and the mode of coordination influences polytype selection. Cobalt hydroxynitrate crystallizes in the structure of the 3R₂ polytype while the hydroxytartarate, hydroxychloride and α-cobalt hydroxide crystallize in the structure of the 3R₁ polytype. Cobalt hydroxysulfate is turbostratically disordered. The turbostratic disorder is a direct consequence of the mismatch between the crystallographically defined interlayer sites generated within the crystal and the tetrahedral symmetry of the SO₄²⁻ ions.     

New sphingolipids and a sterol from a lobophytum species of the Indian ocean

Chemical investigation of a soft coral species of the genus Lobophytum has resulted in the isolation of three new sphingolipids--(2S,3S,4R)-2-nonadecanoylamino-octadecane-1,3,4-triol (1), (2S,3R,4E,8E)-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxyheptadecanoylamino]-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (2), 1-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxynonadecanoylamino]-9-methyl-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (3) and a sterol--(24S)-ergost-5-en-3beta,7beta-diol (4) along with the known sphingolipid--(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-hexadecanoylamino-4,8-octadecadien-1,3-diol (5) which showed cytotoxicity against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).     

Two new 5-deoxyflavones from Albizia odoratissima

Two new 5-deoxyflavones, 7,8-dimethoxy-3',4'-methylenedioxyflavone (1) and 7,2',4'-trimethoxyflavone (2) together with a known flavone, 7,4'-dimethoxy-3'-hydroxyflavone (3) were isolated from the rootbark of Albizia odoratissima. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and 1D and 2D-NMR spectral studies including (1)H-(1)H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity (HMBC) and nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY).     

Synthesis of some new metal-containing polyurethanes

Some new metal-containing polyurethanes were synthesized from manganese and lead salts of mono(hydroxyethyl)phthalate by condensing them with hexamethylene diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate in dimethylformamide as solvent. The polymers were characterized by viscometry, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The decomposition temperatures of these polymers were found to be significantly lower than those of metal-free polymers of similar structure. However, the rates of decomposition of metal-containing polyurethanes were lower than those of polyurethanes having no metal. Inherent viscosities in DMSO at 30° of these polyurethanes were low, ranging from 0.043 to 0.067.     

Sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method for the determination of trace amounts of osmium with 1,2,3-indanetrione monothiosemicarbazone

Summary Sensitive and Selective Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Trace Amounts of Osmium with 1,2,3-Indanetrione Monothiosemicarbazone A simple, sensitive and selective spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of osmium using 1,2,3-indane-trione monothiosemicarbazone (ITMT). The method is based on the colour reaction between ITMT and osmium(VIII) in hydrochloric acid (0.32–0.60 M) medium. The calibration graph for measurement at 440 nm is linear in the range 1.4–33.6g of osmium per 25ml, with a molar absorptivity of 6.43×10⁴l·mole^–1·cm^–1. The effect of interferences has been studied and the method applied to the determination of osmium in synthetic samples whose composition correspond to osmiridium or syserkite, with good results.     

A model for surfactant distribution in latex coatings

The presence of surfactants in dried latex films can adversely affect the adhesive, water-resistant, and gloss properties, so investigating the surfactant distribution in latex coatings is of prime industrial relevance. Here we present a model that predicts the distribution of surfactant in a latex coating during the solvent evaporation stage. The conservation equation for surfactant during solvent evaporation is solved in the limit of infinite particle Peclet numbers, a dimensionless quantity giving the measure of relative magnitudes of evaporative to diffusive fluxes. A parametric analysis using the model reveals that the surfactant adsorption isotherm is the determining physical parameter. The model always predicts surfactant excesses at the top surface and either excess or depletion at the bottom surface depending on the isotherm. Uniform distributions are predicted for low surfactant Peclet numbers. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic probes on film surfaces conform to the behavior predicted by the model.     

A new sphingolipid from the gorgonian Junceella juncea of the Indian Ocean

A new sphingolipid, (2S,3R,4E)-1,3-dihydroxy-2-[(nonadecanoyl) amino]-octadec-4-ene (1) along with ubiquitous batyl alcohol is isolated from the gorgonian, Junceella juncea Pallas (Gorgonaceae) of the Indian Ocean. The structure of 1 is determined on the basis of 1H- and 13C-NMR, COSY, FABMS, and GC-EIMS experiments.