Preparation of micro- and nanopatterns of polymer chains grafted onto flexible polymer substrates

In this work a simple novel method for preparing micro- and nanoscale patterns of polymer chains grafted onto flexible polymer substrates is described. A combination of the two techniques of radiation grafting and "grafting-from" has been made. This combination makes it possible to prepare grafted structures having micro- or nanoscale lateral dimensions that are determined by the electron beam or X-ray irradiation patterns used. The height of the grafted features can be controlled by the irradiation dose or such grafting reaction conditions as time, temperature, or monomer concentration. Our first results for nanopatterned samples demonstrate resolution comparable to those of other polymer-based lithography processes.     

Investigation of spectroscopic studies and DFT calculations on glucofuranose derivatives of dithiophosphonates

Abstract

2,4-Bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,2,4-dithiadiphosphetane-2,4-disulfide (Lawesson’s reagent: LR) was reacted with 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene-α-D-glucofuranose and 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose in toluene and gave rise to crude dithiophosphonic acids. The crude dithiophosphonic acids were treated with excess triethylamine and the triethylammonium salts of dithiophosphonic acids (1) and (2) were isolated by crystallization method. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and NMR (¹H-, ¹³C- and ³¹P-) spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. In addition, NMR spectra, the electronic properties (the electronic chemical potential, electronegativity, chemical hardness and the global electrophilicity index) and NBO analysis of compound 2 have been calculated by using the Gaussian 16?W program. The electronic properties were calculated using Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) energies by density functional method (DFT/B3LYP) at 6-31G(d,p) level. The HOMO and LUMO energies are ?5.9 and ?0.72?eV, respectively. The HOMO–LUMO energy difference is 5.18?eV and this value shows that compound 2 has a high stability and low reactivity.     

Synthesis,characterization, and application of silver nanoparticle‐thiophenol nanocomposite film on the glassy carbon surface

In this study, 4‐thiophenol modified glassy carbon electrode was prepared by the reduction of 4‐diazothiophenol tetrafluoroborate salt. Silver nanoparticles were attached to the thiophenol modified surface to prepare a thiophenol‐silver nanoparticle composite film. 4‐Aminothiopenol molecules were deposited by self‐assembling technique to form multi‐layered nanofilms of TP/SNP/PhNH₂ on glassy carbon substrate. These surfaces were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflectance‐absorption infrared spectroscopy, and ellipsometry at each multilayer film growth process. Atomic force microscopic images of GC/TP/SNP/PhNH₂ surfaces were also acquired. The characterization methods show that the amine group containing surface permits the subsequent modification by a variety of coupling reactions for the immobilization of more complex systems. An application of the electrode modification for the determination of uric acid with a significantly lower detection limit is described. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stochastic models for strategic resource allocation in nonprofit foreclosed housing acquisitions

Increased rates of mortgage foreclosures in the U.S. have had devastating social and economic impacts during and after the 2008 financial crisis. As part of the response to this problem, nonprofit organizations such as community development corporations (CDCs) have been trying to mitigate the negative impacts of mortgage foreclosures by acquiring and redeveloping foreclosed properties. We consider the strategic resource allocation decisions for these organizations which involve budget allocations to different neighborhoods under cost and return uncertainty. Based on interactions with a CDC, we develop stochastic integer programming based frameworks for this decision problem, and assess the practical value of the models by using real-world data. Both policy-related and computational analyses are performed, and several insights such as the trade-offs between different objectives, and the efficiency of different solution approaches are presented.     

Surface modification and characterization of phenanthroline nanofilms on carbon substrate

Modification of glassy carbon (GC) surfaces with phenanthroline derivatives (PDs) such as 5‐amino‐1,10‐phenanthroline (5AP) and 5,6‐diamino‐1,10‐phenanthroline (56DAP) is described in this study. Surface modification experiments were performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) scanning from + 1.2 to + 2.7 V at scan rate of 100 mV/s applying 30 potential scans in acetonitrile (CH₃CN) containing 1 mM PDs and 100 mM tetrabutylammoniumtetrafluoroborate (TBATFB). The presence of PDs on GC electrode was confirmed using CV, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), contact angle measurements and ellipsometry and comparing with the results of bare GC electrode. A mechanism was proposed for the electrochemical modification of the GC electrode surface with PDs. The structure of the 5AP and 56DAP films was also discussed in the light of electrochemical and spectroscopic data. The complex‐forming ability of the modified surfaces against metal cations was investigated by square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). It was shown that surfaces having 1,10‐phenanthroline ligands with different functional groups were quite useful for the determination of transition metal ions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of a 2‐Benzo[c]cinnoline Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode by Raman Spectroscopy,Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy,and Ellipsometry

This work describes the characterization of the grafted 2‐benzo[c]cinnoline (2BCC) molecules at a glassy carbon (GC) electrode surface by voltammetry and spectroscopy. Attachment of the molecule to the carbon substrate was achieved by the electrochemical reduction of 2‐benzo[c]cinnoline diazonium salt (2BCC‐DAS). GC electrode modification was carried out in aprotic solution with 2BCC diazonium salt. Dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) were used to prove the surface modification to see the blockage of the electron transfer. The presence of 2BCC at the GC electrode surface was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy was used to monitor molecular bound properties of the adsorbates at the 2BCC‐GC surface and confirm the attachment of 2BCC molecules onto the GC surface. The thickness of the 2BCC film on GC was also investigated by ellipsometric measurement.     

Replication of Micro- and Nanostructures on Polymer Surfaces

Summary : Via geometrical micro- and nanostructures new functionalities like controlled wetting properties, biological adhesive / dehesive properties or surface patterns for guided self assembly can be added to polymer surfaces. This is especially interesting for medical or biotechnological applications, because there is no new approval process necessary. The whole process from producing the structures via EUV-interference lithography to the injection moulding will be shown. How far the limits for the smallness of these structures on polymers are already pushed forward show the results from our latest injection moulded samples. Grooves of 18 nm width - this means world record! - could be reproduced in an industrial process and in an economical very interesting high-volume production.     

Syntheses and modifications of bisdiazonium salts of 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline and 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline 5-oxide onto glassy carbon electrode and the characterization of the modified surfaces

The goal of this study was to prepare novel glassy carbon electrode surfaces using two similar bis-diazonium salts, 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline (3,8-BCC-BDAS) and 3,8-benzo[c]cinnoline 5-oxide (3,8-BCCNO-BDAS) at the glassy carbon (GC) surface. These diazonium salts were reduced electrochemically and covalently electrografted onto the glassy carbon electrode surface to form modified electrodes. Electrochemical reduction of 3,8-BCC-BDAS and 3,8-BCCNO-BDAS salts on the electrode surface yielded a compact and stable film. The existence of BCC moieties on the GC surface was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, reflectance-adsorption infrared spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, ellipsometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The stability and working potential range of the novel modified electrodes were also studied. The possibility of analytical application of these novel surfaces for inorganic cations and especially selectivity to copper ions was investigated. 3,8-diaminobenzo[c]cinnoline (3,8-DABCC) and its 5-oxide derivative (3,8-DABCCNO) were synthesized from the reductive cyclization of 2,2′-dinitrobenzidine and prepared their bisdiazonium salts via the tetrazotization reactions of the diamines with NaNO₂. The structures of 3,8-DABCC and 3,8-DABCCNO and their corresponding bisdiazonium salts are confirmed by spectral analysis.