Optical tomography of non-crystalline films by interference enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The depth dependence of Raman spectra of a-GeS₂-type films having a different optical thickness (/4 and /2) and their refractive index profile have been investigated. The model of a layered-inhomogeneous structure of films has been proposed. There have been distinguished three regions: near-surface region (up to 50 Å), central part and transition film-substrate region (up to 300 Å).     

Preparation of nitrogen-substituted TiO2 thin film photocatalysts by the radio frequency magnetron sputtering deposition method and their photocatalytic reactivity under visible light irradiation

Nitrogen-substituted TiO2 (N-TiO2) thin film photocatalysts have been prepared by a radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RF-MS) deposition method using a N2/Ar mixture sputtering gas. The effect of the concentration of substituted nitrogen on the characteristics of the N-TiO2 thin films was investigated by UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The absorption band of the N-TiO2 thin film was found to shift smoothly to visible light regions up to 550 nm, its extent depending on the concentration of nitrogen substituted within the TiO2 lattice in a range of 2.0-16.5%. The N-TiO2 thin film photocatalyst with a nitrogen concentration of 6.0% exhibited the highest reactivity for the photocatalytic oxidation of 2-propanol diluted in water even under visible (lambda > or = 450 nm) or solar light irradiation. Moreover, N-TiO2 thin film photocatalysts prepared on conducting glass electrodes showed anodic photocurrents attributed to the photooxidation of water under visible light, its extent depending on wavelengths up to 550 nm. The absorbed photon to current conversion efficiencies reached 25.2% and 22.4% under UV (lambda = 360 nm) and visible light (lambda = 420 nm), respectively. UV-vis and photoelectrochemical investigations also confirmed that these thin films remain thermodynamically and mechanically stable even under heat treatment at 673 K. In addition, XPS and XRD studies revealed that a significantly high substitution of the lattice O atoms of the TiO2 with the N atoms plays a crucial role in the band gap narrowing of the TiO2 thin films, enabling them to absorb and operate under visible light irradiation as a highly reactive, effective photocatalyst.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent poly(aromatic amide) dendrimers

The synthesis of a series of poly(aromatic amide) dendrimers up to the second generation is described herein. The AB(2) building block used throughout the synthesis of the dendrimers was the allyl ester of 3,5-diaminocinnamic acid, which has been synthesized from 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid in good yield with use of a four-step procedure. Dendron synthesis was achieved via a convergent approach with use of a sequence of deprotection/coupling steps. Two commercially available alcohols, L-menthol and citronellol, were coupled to the AB(2) monomer by using an alkyl diacid spacer and two core units; 1,7-diaminoheptane and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine have been used to produce the final dendrimers. Characterization was carried out by NMR and IR spectroscopies, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, GPC, and DSC. The novel monomer and dendritic derivatives exhibited a strong fluorescence emission in the visible region (lambda approximately 500 nm) of the spectrum and a weak emission in the near-infrared (lambda approximately 850 nm) upon excitation in the near-UV region. The fluorescence emission characteristics were found to be solvent and dendrimer generation dependent.     

Photocurrents in simple polymer systems. II

Large photocurrents have been observed in films of some simple polymers (containing no π-orbitals), of which poly(vinyl fluoride) is a typical example. Not only are the currents large (up to 10^?5 A/cm²) but also they are capable of being excited by light in the visible wavelength region where absorption by the polymer is too low to be detectable. The results indicate that the effects are electronic, rather than ionic, in nature.     

Molecular and electronic structure of square-planar nickel II, nickel III and nickel III pi-cation radical complexes with a tetradentate o-phenylenedioxamidate redox-active ligand

The molecular and electronic structures of the electron transfer series of four-coordinate square-planar nickel complexes with the ligand o-phenylenebis(N'-methyloxamidate), [NiL]z (z = 2-, 1-, 0), have been evaluated by DFT and TDDFT calculations, and most of their experimentally available structural and spectroscopic properties (X. Ottenwaelder et al., Dalton Trans., 2005, DOI: 10.1039/b502478a) have been reasonably reproduced at the B3LYP level of theory. The anionic species [NiL]2- and [NiL]- are genuine low-spin nickel II and nickel III complexes with diamagnetic singlet (S = 0) and paramagnetic doublet (S = 1/2) states, respectively. The nickel III complex presents shorter Ni-N(amidate) bond distances (1.85-1.90 A) than the parent nickel II complex (1.88-1.93 A) and characteristic LMCT bands in the NIR region (lambda max = 794 and 829 nm) while the analogous MLCT bands for the nickel(II) complex are in the UV region (lambda max = 346 and 349 nm). The neutral species [NiL] is a nickel III o-benzosemiquinonediimine pi-cation radical complex with a diamagnetic singlet (S = 0) and a paramagnetic triplet (S = 1) states fairly close in energy but fundamentally different in orbital configuration. The singlet metal-radical ground state results from the antiferromagnetic coupling between the 3d(yz) orbital of the Ni III ion (S(M) = 1/2) and the pi(b) orbital of the benzosemiquinone-type radical ligand (S(L) = 1/2), which have a large overlap and thus strong covalent bonding. The triplet metal-radical excited state involves the ferromagnetic coupling between the Ni III 3d(zx) orbital and the benzosemiquinone-type pi(b) orbital, which are orthogonal to each other. The singlet and triplet states of the nickel III pi-cation radical complex possess characteristic quinoid-type short-long-short alternating sequence of C-C bonds in the benzene ring, as well as intense MLCT transitions in the VIS (lambda max = 664 nm) and NIR (lambda max = 884 nm) regions, respectively.     

Optical Gas Sensing Properties of Silica Film Doped with Cobalt Oxide Nanocrystals

SiO₂ sol-gel films doped with cobalt oxide nanocrystals have been fabricated. The nanocrystals precipitate in the glass film at 500_°C, while the film is still porous. The nanocomposite films showed a reversible change in the optical transmittance when exposed to CO in the 250 < < 850 nm range. The effects of the residual porosity and testing temperature have been studied. The gas sensing properties of the cobalt oxide nanocrystals doped films are compared with those of nickel oxide nanocrystals doped silica film, previously reported.     

Mechanistic studies of the photocatalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene with visible-light-driven N-doped TiO2 photocatalysts

Visible-light-driven TiO2 photocatalysts doped with nitrogen have been prepared as powders and thin films in a cylindrical tubular furnace under a stream of ammonia gas. The photocatalysts thus obtained were found to have a band-gap energy of 2.95 eV. Electron spin resonance (ESR) under irradiation with visible light (lambda > or = 430 nm) afforded the increase in intensity in the visible-light region. The concentration of trapped holes was about fourfold higher than that of trapped electrons. Nitrogen-doped TiO2 has been used to investigate mechanistically the photocatalytic oxidation of trichloroethylene (TCE) under irradiation with visible light (lambda > or = 420 nm). Cl and O radicals, which contribute significantly to the generation of dichloroacetyl chloride (DCAC) in the photocatalytic oxidation of TCE under UV irradiation, were found to be deactivated under irradiation with visible light. As the main by-product, only phosgene was detected in the photocatalytic oxidation of TCE under irradiation with visible light. Thus, the reaction mechanism of TCE photooxidation under irradiation with visible light clearly differs markedly from that under UV irradiation. Based on the results of the present study, we propose a new reaction mechanism and adsorbed species for the photocatalytic oxidation of TCE under irradiation with visible light. The energy band for TiO2 by doping with nitrogen may involve an isolated band above the valence band.     

Preparation of PZT Film and Powder by Sol-Gel Technique Using Ti- and Zr-Alkoxides and a Novel Pb-Precursor; Pb(NO3)2 1.5EO3

PZT (PbZr0.53Ti0.47O3) films and powders have been prepared by a precursor mixture containing Pb(NO3)1.5EO3 (EO3=triethylene glycol) and Zr- and Ti-methoxy ethanolates. The gel films have been deposited on Si/Ti/Pt substrates and on glass substrates from which they can easily be removed. The PZT films on the Si/Ti/Pt substrates were prepared with thicknesses up to 200 nm per layer after heating to 700°C. The phase development on heat-treatment of loose gel films to yield PZT was investigated by Powder-XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, TEM-EDS, thermo-mass spectroscopy and DSC and the PZT was found to form in the region 550–700°C. PZT powders of 50–5000 nm sizes were prepared by hydrolysis under basic conditions and washing with water followed by heat-treatment to 650°C.     

Resorcinol calixarenes (resorcarenes): Langmuir-Blodgett films and optical properties

Specially synthesized amphiphilic resorcinol calixarene (resorcarene 2) molecules have been deposited as Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films on a variety of substrates including hydrophobically treated glass slides, silicon and gold-coated glass slides. A value of 1.9 nm² is obtained for the area per molecule from measurements of pressure/area isotherms of the floating layer. Optical absorption studies within the ultraviolet-visible frequency region have been performed on these molecules in both LB films and in solution of resorcarene 2 in chloroform, containing 10% ethanol. Molecular aggregation in the form of dimerization is believed to take place during film formation. Further analysis has been carried out for Langmuir-Blodgett films of resorcarene 2 by using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, low-angle X-ray diffraction and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) techniques. The monolayer thickness of 1.6 nm found from SPR measurements is consistent with that from other experimental observations.     

Preparation of the In2O3·Sn Films by MO-CVD Technique

Introduction In₂O₃·Sn films have high transparency(>95％) within the visible spectral region, low resistivity(10^-2-10^-4 ohm·cm) at room temperature and superior thermal stability. These films have been applied to solar cells, electronics and photoelectronics fields. In recent years, organometallic-CVD method has emerged as a successful alternate to the physical methods and general CVDfor the growth of these films.     

Monte Carlo simulations of stress relaxation of entanglement-free Fraenkel chains. II. Nonlinear polymer viscoelasticity

The nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of the Fraenkel-chain model is studied with respect to the constitutive equation of the Rouse model. Distinctly different from the results of the Rouse model, the Fraenkel-chain model gives the following characteristic nonlinear behavior: (a) The two distinct dynamic modes in the relaxation modulus GS(t,lambda)--as observed in the linear region reported in Paper I [Y.-H. Lin and A. K. Das, J. Chem. Phys. 126, 074902 (2007), preceding paper]--or in the first normal-stress difference function GPsi1(t,lambda) are shown to have different strain dependences: strain hardening for the fast mode and strain softening for the slow mode. (b) The Lodge-Meissner relation GS(t,lambda)=GPsi1(t,lambda) holds over the whole time range, which has been shown both analytically and by simulation. (c) The second normal-stress difference is nonzero, being positive in the fast-mode region and negative in the slow-mode region. The comparisons between orientation and stress for all tensor components consistently confirm the strong correlation of the slow mode as well as its entropic nature with the segmental-orientation anisotropy as shown in the linear region studied in Paper I. A consequence of this correlation is the applicability of the stress-optical rule in the slow-mode region. This also leads to the expectation that the damping function h(lambda)=G(S)(t,lambda)/G(S)(t,lambda-->0) and the ratio between the first and second normal-stress differences, N2(t,lambda)/N1(t,lambda), are described by the orientation tensor which has the same form as that given by Doi and Edwards [J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 2 74, 1789 (1978); 74, 1802 (1978)] with independent-alignment approximation for an entangled system. The similarity between the slow mode of an entanglement-free Fraenkel-chain system and the terminal mode of an entangled polymer system as observed in the comparison of theory, simulation, and experiment suggests that the close correlation of the entropic nature of the mode with the orientation anisotropy--as of the Fraenkel segment or the primitive step in the Doi-Edwards theory--is a generally valid physical concept in polymer viscoelasticity.     

Marangoni Flow Driven Instabilities and Marginal Regeneration

Fingering instabilities in films moving along wetted surfaces, dimpling in horizontal liquid films, and the drainage of vertical soap films by marginal regeneration are caused by surface tension gradients along the perimeter of the thin film. These gradients lead to a mechanical instability which involves Marangoni type liquid flow. It is possible to describe the conditions for the onset of marginal regeneration with a critical number of the ratio between the driving force for the Marangoni flow and the friction of film elements that move relative to their surroundings. This ratio is called the Mysels number. A linear stability analysis leads to a scaling relation lambda approximately h(Ca)(-1/3) between the wavelength lambda of the instability and the capillary number Ca (Ca=/etaV(s)/gamma. In experiments with several Marangoni-driven instabilities this scaling relation has been found; it illustrates the general applicability in the understanding of flow phenomena of this type. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

A simple and rapid fluorimetric method for the microdetermination of isonicotinic acid hydrazide

A simple, rapid and sensitive fluorimetric method has been developed for the microdetermination of isonicotinic acid hydrazide, based on its formation of a hydrazone with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde in acidic medium, in the presence of excess of scandium ions, and the consequent formation of a strongly fluorescent complex (lambda(ex) 430 nm, lambda(em) 510 nm) between the hydrazone and scandium in weakly acidic medium. Kinetic and equilibrium procedures for isonicotinic acid hydrazide determination are proposed. A calibration graph linear up to 5.00 mug/ml is obtained by both procedures, with a mean relative error of about 2.0%. The detection limit for the kinetic procedure is 0.4 ng/ml and for the equilibrium procedure about 0.2 ng/ml.     

P-type conductivity in transparent oxides and sulfide fluorides

Thin films of CuSc_1−xMg_xO_2+y have been rendered conducting by intercalation of oxygen. Hole conductivities up to of order 10 S/cm can be achieved at the expense of visible transparency, especially in the blue region of the spectrum. Hole conductivities up to 100 S/cm have been achieved in pressed pellets of K-doped BaCuSF, and a band-gap of 3.2 eV has been measured on undoped films.     

Crystallographically oriented mesoporous WO3 films: synthesis, characterization, and applications.

Mesoporous semiconducting films consisting of preferentially orientated monoclinic-phase nanocrystals of tungsten trioxide have been prepared using a novel version of the sol-gel method. Transformations undergone by a colloidal solution of tungstic acid, stabilized by an organic additive such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) 300, as a function of the annealing temperature have been followed by means of a confocal Raman microscope. The shape and size of WO3 nanoparticles, the porosity, and the properties of the films depend critically on preparation parameters, such as the tungstic acid/PEG ratio, the PEG chain length, and the annealing conditions. Well-crystallized WO3 films combine excellent photoresponse to the blue region of the solar spectrum, up to 500 nm, with good transparency at wavelengths larger than 550 nm. Particular applications of these nanocrystalline WO3 films include photoelectrochemical and electrochromic devices.     

Ultra low field emission characteristics of chloride doped polypyrrole films

Field emission characteristics of chloride doped polypyrrole (Cl‐PPy) films have been investigated. For this purpose, freestanding Cl‐PPy films have been synthesized by interfacial polymerization from two different monomer (pyrrole) concentrations (1 and 0.1 M), keeping the monomer to oxidant (FeCl₃) concentration ratio equal to 1. The surface morphology of these Cl‐PPy films, as revealed from scanning electron microscopy, was found to be granular in nature. The average grain size of films prepared using 1 and 0.1 M pyrrole concentrations were ～2.5 and ～1 µm, respectively. The measured threshold field, that is, field required to draw an emission current density of 10 µA/cm², for these two films were 0.27 and 0.15 V/µm, respectively. From these films, a maximum current density of 1 mA/cm² could be drawn at an electric field of 0.42 and 0.29 V/µm, respectively. The field emission current (investigated at a preset value of 1 µA) was found to be very stable up to 3h, suggesting utility of Cl‐PPy films as a novel material for field emission based applications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrochemical Formation of Amorphous Selenium Films Doped by Lead Selenide Nanoparticles

The formation of amorphous Se films doped by PbSe nanoparticles during the cathodic co-deposition of Se and Pb is studied. Doping Se with PbSe makes the charge transfer more efficient both in the film bulk and at the heterojunction with electrolyte, thus making it possible to deposit Se(PbSe) films a few micrometers thick. Co-deposition of Se and Pb results from electrodeposition of adsorbed Pb atoms on surface atoms of Se at potentials more positive than the equilibrium potential of the Pb reduction (underpotential deposition). For the Se(PbSe) electrodes, spectral sensitization of photocurrent is observed up to 900 nm. As opposed to Se, which is characterized by absorption at < 600 nm, the edge of optical absorption of Se(PbSe) is displaced towards the long-wave region of the spectrum. The underpotential deposition on the Se(PbSe) surface is possible in dark, permitting their additional modification by PbSe monolayers.     

Porous GaN as a template to produce surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active surfaces

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates have been prepared by depositing Au or Ag on porous GaN (PGaN). The PGaN used as the template for the metal deposition in these studies was generated by a Pt-assisted electroless etching technique. PGaN was chosen as a potential SERS template due to its nanostructured surface and high surface area, two characteristics that are important for SERS substrates. Metal films were deposited either by solution-based electroless deposition or by thermal vacuum evaporation. SERS spectra were recorded at lambda = 752.5 nm for Au films and at lambda = 514.5 nm for Ag films deposited on PGaN. The SERS signal strength across the metal coated PGaN substrates was uniform and was not plagued by "hot" or "cold" spots on the surface, a common problem with other SERS surfaces. The Ag film deposited by electroless deposition had the highest overall SERS response, with an enhancement factor (EF) relative to normal Raman spectroscopy of 10(8). A portion of the increase in EF relative to typical SERS-active substrates can be assigned to the large surface area characteristic of the PGaN-Ag structures, but some of the enhancement is intrinsic and is likely related to the specific morphology of the metal-nanopore composite structure.     

Ultrafast dynamics of transient bleaching of surface modified cadmium sulphide nano-particles in Nafion films

Ultrafast dynamics of transient photobleaching and recovery of cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles in Nafion films before and after treatment with excess cadmium ions have been studied upon excitation at 400 nm with a femtosecond laser system. Both samples gave transient bleaching in less than 1 ps and a multi-exponential recovery in the wavelength region between ca. 410 and 500 nm. Cd²⁺ treatment of the nanoparticles resulted in several dramatic changes to the fluorescence and transient bleaching spectra from the films: (1) A new fluorescence band at higher energy appeared in addition to an increase in the ‘defect’ fluorescence band at longer wavelengths. (2) A remarkable increase in the extent of transient bleaching was observed below about 440 nm, which recovered faster than that at longer wavelengths. (3) The recovery rate of the transient bleaching became faster, relative to the untreated nanoparticles, over the whole wavelength region of the bleaching. These results have been interpreted in terms of the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes from traps or defects in/on the nanoparticles.     

Metal-assisted unusual hydroxylation at the carbon atom of the triazine ring in dinuclear ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) complexes bridged by 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine: synthesis, structural characterization, stereochemistry, and electrochemical studies

The reaction of cis-[M(bpy)2Cl2] (M = Ru(II), and Os(II) with 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz) in refluxing ethanol-water resulted in the formation of dinuclear complexes of the composition [(M(bpy)2)2(tptz-OH)](PF6)3.nH2O (n = 1 for Ru and n = 0 for Os). In this reaction an unusual metal-induced hydroxylation at the carbon atom of the triazine ring of bridged tptz occurred. However, hydroxylation did not occur in the corresponding mononuclear complexes under similar reaction condition. A comparative study revealed that sufficient electrophilicity on the carbon atom and free movement of the attached pyridyl ring promoted the hydroxylation reaction. The hydroxylated dinuclear complexes exist in two stereoisomeric forms, a rac form (delta delta/lambda lambda) and a meso form (delta lambda/lambda delta). Both diastereoisomers have been isolated in pure form and characterized. The molecular structures of the rac form of Ru(II) complex (3-II) and meso form of the Os(II) complex (4-I) have been established by single-crystal X-ray studies. Crystal data: complex 3-II, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 24.584(7) A, b = 14.309(4) A, c = 41.044(13) A, beta = 92.84(2) degrees, V = 14420.0(7) A3, Z = 8, R = 0.179, wR2 = 0.479; complex 4-I, triclinic, P1, a = 13.444(7) A, b = 14.576(5) A, c = 19.641(7) A, alpha = 98.21(3) degrees, beta = 101.67(4) degrees, gamma = 105.80(4) degrees, V = 3546.0(3) A3, Z = 2, R = 0.093, wR2 = 0.279. The poor data quality of 3-II did not allow anisotropic refinement of non-hydrogen atoms except Ru and P. A PLUTO drawing of this compound is given only to support the molecular structure. 1H NMR data have been used to characterize the diastereoisomers. The dinuclear complexes exhibit unusual electrochemical behavior; cathodic shifts of the metal-centered oxidations and ligand-based first reduction compared to mononuclear complexes have been observed. There is a splitting in the metal-centered oxidation potentials, indicating strong electronic communication between the metal centers. Comproportionation constants (Kcom) of the mixed-valence species have been calculated; the values are in the range 6.03 x 10(4)-4.7 x 10(6). It appears that a metal-metal interaction occurred by an electron-transfer mode across the low-lying pi* orbital of the bridged tptz.