Simulation of the electronic and vibrational structure of hydrogenated amorphous silicon using cluster models

A set of simple models of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) consisting of hypothetical silane molecules with diamond or similar lattices was studied by the semiempirical AM1 method. Densities of states and infrared spectra were calculated for the silane molecules and similar molecules with dangling bonds disorder, and with boron or phosphorus substitution to simulate doping. Some examples are presented, and a comparison is made with experimental properties of a-Si:H. It is proposed to use these models in a study of the Staebler–Wronski photodegradation of a-Si:H and other aspects of amorphous silicon technology. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthèse du mèthyl-1 diformyl-2,3 pyrrole,de la méthyl-1 pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyridazine et de la méthyl-1 oxo-6 (6h)cycloheptatrieno[b] pyrrole

This communication describes the synthesis of l-methyl-2,3-diformylpyrrole. This new compound is used to prepare a new heterocycle, l-methylcyclohepta[b]pyrrol-6-one and thus allows a new synthesis of l-methylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyridazine.     

End-to-end single cyanato and thiocyanato bridged Cu(II) polymers with a new tridentate Schiff base ligand: crystal structure and magnetic properties

A new tridentate Schiff base ligand HL (L = C14H19N2O), derived from the condensation of benzoylacetone and 2-dimethylaminoethylamine in a 1:1 ratio, reacts with copper(ii) acetate and cyanate, thiocyanate or azide, to give rise to several end-to-end polymeric complexes of formulae [CuL(mu(1,3)-NCO)]n 1, [CuL(mu(1,3)-NCS)]n 2 and the complex 3 has two crystallographically independent units of formula [CuL(N3)] in the asymmetric unit cell. Complex 3 exists in dimeric form rather than as a polymeric chain. Compound 1 is the first report of a singly end-to-end cyanate bridged polymeric chain of Cu(II) with a Schiff base as a co-ligand. There are many examples of double NCS bridged polymeric chains, but fewer singly bridged ones such as compound 2. We have characterized these complexes by analytical, spectroscopic, structural and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. The coordination geometry around the Cu(II) centers is distorted square pyramidal for 1 and 2 and square planar for complex 3. The magnetic susceptibility data show slight antiferromagnetic coupling for the polymers having J values -0.19 and -0.57 cm(-1) for complexes 1 and 2 respectively. The low values of J are consistent with the equatorial-axial disposition of the bridges in the polymers.     

Thermostability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cromobacterium viscosum</Emphasis> lipase in AOT/isooctane reverse micelle

The thermostability of Cromobacterium viscosum lip ase (EC 3.1.1.3) entrapped in AOT (sodium bis-[2-ethylhexyl] sulfosuccinate) reverse micelles was in creased by the addition of short-chain polyethylene glycol (PEG 400). Two different approaches were considered: (1) the determination of half-life time and (2) the mechanistic analysis of deactivation kinetics. The half-life of lipase entrapped in AOT/isooctane reverse micelles with PEG 400 at 60°C was 28h, ninefold higher than that in reverse micelles without PEG 400. The lip ase entrapped in both reverse micellar systems followed a series-type deactivation mechanism involving two first-order steps. The deactivation constant for the first step at 60°C in PEG containing reverse micelles was 0.055 h¹¹, 11-fold lower than that in reverse micelles without PEG, whereas it remained almost constant for the second step. The inactivation energy of the lip ase entrapped in reverse micelles with and without PEG 400 was 88.12 and 21.97 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Improvement in enzyme activity and stability by addition of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol to sodium bis(2-ethyl-L-hexyl)sulfosuccinate/isooctane reverse micellar system

The activity and stability of Chromobacterium viscosum lipase (glycerolester hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.3)-catalyzed olive oil hydrolysis in sodium bis (2-ethyl-1-hexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/isooctane reverse micelles is increased appreciably when low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) is added to the reverse micelles. To understand the effect of PEG 400 on the phase behavior of the reverse micellar system, the phase diagram of AOT/PEG 400/water/isooctane system was studied. The influences of relevant parameters on the catalytic activity in AOT/PEG 400 reverse micelles were investigated and compared with the results in the simple AOT reverse micelles. In the presence of PEG 400, the linear decreasing trend of the lipase activity with AOT concentration, which is observed in the simple AOT reverse micelles, disappeared. Enzyme entrapped in AOT/PEG reverse micelles was very stable, retaining>75% of its initial activity after 60 d, whereas the half-life in simple AOT reverse micelles was 38 d. The kinetics parameter maximum velocity (V _max)exhibiting the temperature dependence and the activation energy obtained by Arrhenius plot was suppressed significantly by the addition of PEG 400.