The effects of the pause to pulse ratio in the regime of pulsating overpotential on the formation of honeycomb-like structures

The formation of honeycomb-like structures in the pulsating overpotential (PO) regime was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The honeycomb-like structures obtained with a square-wave PO of different pause to pulse ratios were compared to the one obtained in the constant potentiostatic regime. Increasing the pause to pulse ratio led to a decrease of the diameter of the holes formed by attached hydrogen bubbles, as well as to an increase in the number of holes formed at the surface area of copper electrodes. The size of the agglomerates of copper grains, of which the walls of the holes were constructed, was reduced with increasing duration of the pause. Also, the uniformity of the honeycomb-like structures was increased by application of the PO regime. It was shown that the effects attained by application of this regime were comparable with those obtained by electrodeposition in a constant potential regime with the addition of specific additives.     

Morphology and internal structure of copper deposits electrodeposited by the pulsating current regime in the hydrogen co-deposition range

The effect of the regime of pulsating current (PC) on copper electrodeposition in the hydrogen co-deposition range was examined by the techniques of scanning electron and optical microscopes. The quantities of evolved hydrogen and morphologies of electrodeposited copper strongly depended on the applied parameters of square waves PC, such as the current density amplitude (or the amplitude of the cathodic current density), deposition pulse, and pause duration. The increase of the current density amplitude led to intensification of hydrogen evolution reaction, and the change of morphology of electrodeposited copper from dendrites and shallow holes to dish-like holes was observed. For the constant pause duration, the prolonging deposition pulses intensify hydrogen evolution reaction leading to the formation of the honeycomb-like structures. The set of modified equations considering the effect of hydrogen generated during metal electrodeposition processes by the pulsating current regime is also presented. The concept of “effective overpotential amplitude” was proposed to explain the change of copper surface morphology with the intensification of hydrogen evolution reaction.     

Control of the morphology of electrodeposited three-dimensional copper foam by tuning the pressure

Three-dimensional(3D) copper foams have been formed by electrodeposition at different nitrogen pressures and examined by scanning electron microscopy.The results indicate that an increase in system pressure leads to a decrease of the pore size of the copper foam due to the suppressed coalescence of hydrogen bubbles,while the thickness of the copper foam increases with decreasing pressure.Also,the walls around the pores on the copper foam consist of copper dendrites,and the copper dendrites are made up of copper grains with sizes less than 1 μm.The average sizes of the copper grains decrease with increasing system pressure.It has been demonstrated that copper foams with controllable 3D structure formed by electrodeposition at different pressures are comparable to those obtained by electrodeposition at normal pressure in the presence of specific additives.     

Effect of parameters of square-wave pulsating current on copper electrodeposition in the hydrogen co-deposition range

Copper electrodeposition processes in the hydrogen co-deposition range by the pulsating current (PC) regime were examined by the determination of the average current efficiency of hydrogen evolution and by the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis of the morphology of the formed deposits. The two sets of the square-wave PC of the same pause to pulse ratios, but with different duration of deposition pulses and pauses were analyzed. The one set of square-wave PC was with the constant pause duration and different deposition pulses. In the other set, the deposition pulse was constant while the pause duration was varied. The obtained results were compared with those obtained by electrodeposition at the constant overpotential from solutions of different CuSO₄ and H₂SO₄ concentrations. It was found that the effect of the increasing deposition pulse was equivalent to the decreasing CuSO₄ concentration, while the effect of the decreasing pause duration was equivalent to the increasing H₂SO₄ concentration. It is shown that it is possible to achieve a substitution of more solutions of different CuSO₄ and H₂SO₄ concentartions by the use of the only one solution if the appropriate PC parameters were applied, what can be of high technological significance.     

Formation of supramolecular hydrogels with controlled microstructures and stability via molecular assembling in a two-component system

Two isomeric building units, 4-oxo-4-(2-pyridinylamino) butanoic acid (defined as G1) and 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridinylamino) butanoic acid (defined as G2) formed fiber- and tree-like crystals in aqueous solutions, respectively. The crystal formation process of G1 was suggested based on the layered cross section of an individual crystal and the single crystal structure. Through cooling the aqueous solutions of their mixtures under G1/G2 molar ratios ranged from 7/1 to 1/3, a series of supramolecular hydrogels were formed based on hydrogen bonds as the main driving force. As decreasing G1/G2 ratios, the first observed aggregates in solution changed from fiber to particle form, while the gelating time became longer and longer. At the collapsing temperature, the gels formed at G1/G2 ratio 3/1 kept the original gel shape but released water, while at G1/G2 ratio 2/1 they broke into pieces without releasing water. The "dropping ball" experiment indicated that the highest gel-to-sol dissociation temperature (T(gel)) is obtained at G1/G2 ratio of 2/1. As measured by UV-vis spectroscopy, the two building units distributed uniformly within the gel formed at G1/G2 ratio of 1/1, indicating they assembled together in forming hydrogel. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) analysis of the dried samples indicated that the backbone shape changed from fiber to sheet and the content of free carboxyl groups increased with decreasing G1/G2 ratios, therefore resulting in hydrogels with different stability. The simple gelator structures and the possibility in controlling gel structure and stability make the hydrogels suitable for various uses.     

Phenomenology of a formation of a honeycomb-like structure during copper electrodeposition

In this paper, the phenomenology of a formation of a honeycomb-like structure was considered. Copper deposits obtained at overpotential of 1000 mV were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. It was shown that two groups of craters or holes were formed by the electrodeposition at this overpotential. The origin of one group is associated with hydrogen evolution and the attachment of hydrogen bubbles at the surface area of an electrode. For the origin of the other group, a current distribution at the growing surface was very important. The effect of preparing a working electrode onto the formation of a honeycomb-like structure is also considered.     

超疏水网状结构对水中气泡的转移作用

通过一步浸泡法制得了超疏水网状结构. 采用环境扫描电镜(ESEM)、X光电子能谱(XPS)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)分别对超疏水网状结构的微观形貌和化学组成进行了表征, 结果表明, 超疏水的网状结构是由连续排列的类菊花状结构堆积而成的, 组成花瓣的微簇是具有层状结构的Cu[CH3(CH2)12COO]2. 借助高速照相机研究了超疏水网状结构表面与水中气泡的相互作用行为规律, 发现该超疏水网状结构对水中气泡产生转移作用, 而亲水的网状结构则不具备该特性.     

Plastic deformation of polyethylene II. Change of mechanical properties during drawing

The crystallinity, elastic modulus, and tensile strength of samples of various draw ratios together with the true stress—strain curves of high-density polyethylene were determined to establish correlations with morphological changes occurring during deformation. Changes of crystallinity at draw ratios below 5, i.e., constancy during drawing of quenched film and a decrease during drawing of annealed film, are explained by the formation of microfibrils with crystallinity independent of the thermal history of the film. The microfibrils slide past each other at higher draw ratios, generating an increasing number of interfibrillar tie molecules, which is reflected in the increasing number of interfibrillar tie molecules, which is reflected in the increase of crystallinity, elastic modulus, and tensile strength. From the true stress—strain curves, the differential work density for the deformation of the volume element was calculated as a function of the draw ratio. It contains two components which reflect two different mechanisms of deformation. The first component, decreasing with increasing draw ratio, can be associated with the destruction of the original microspherulitic structure; the second one, increasing with increasing draw ratio, can be associated with the deformation of the new fiber structure, i.e., with the sliding motion of the microfibrils formed during the first deformation step.     

Preparation and characterization of carbonated barium-calcium hydroxyapatite solid solutions

Particles of carbonated barium-calcium hydroxyapatite solid solutions (BaCaHap) with different Ba/(Ba+Ca) (X(Ba)) atomic ratios were prepared by a wet method at 100 degrees C and characterized by various means. The crystal phases and structures of the products strongly depended on the composition of the starting solution, that is, the Ba/(Ba+Ca) atomic ratio ([X(Ba)]) and H3PO4 concentration ([H3PO4]) in the solution. BaCaHap with X(Ba)0.43 could be prepared at [X(Ba)]0.7 by changing [H3PO4], but could never be obtained at [X(Ba)]=0.8-0.95 regardless of [H3PO4]. The carbonated calcium hydroxyapatite particles prepared at [X(Ba)]=0 were fine and short rod-shaped particles (ca. 14x84 nm). With increasing [X(Ba)] from 0 to 0.8, the particles obtained became large spherical agglomerates. The carbonated barium hydroxyapatite particles formed at [X(Ba)]=1 were long rod-shaped agglomerates (ca. 0.2x2 microm) of fine primary particles. The amount of CO2 adsorbed irreversibly on a series of BaCaHaps showed a minimum at (Ba+Ca)/(P+C) atomic ratio of around 1.56, which agreed well with the minimum cation/P ratio obtained for the other hydroxyapatites, as already reported.     

不同浸润性多孔电极表面的气泡行为

采用氢气模板法制备了具有多孔结构的电极; 通过改变电镀电流密度和电镀时间实现了电极表面多孔结构孔径和分布的控制; 通过改变表面化学组成有效调控了电极表面的浸润性质. 比较了具有不同微观结构和表面化学组成的电极在给定条件下电解水过程中气泡的产生及行为机制. 实验结果表明: 相对于亲水的多孔电极, 疏水的多孔电极表面能够黏附气泡, 更易倾向于形成稳定的气膜; 多孔结构对于亲水电极表面气泡行为的影响比对疏水电极表面气泡行为的影响更为显著; 与没有多孔结构的亲水电极相比, 具有多孔结构的亲水电极表面产生的气泡数量多, 速率快; 与较小孔径的多孔亲水电极相比, 较大孔径的多孔亲水电极表面产生气泡速率快且黏附气泡数量少. 该研究结果为微气泡减阻电极的设计提供了理论依据.     

The self-preserving size distribution theory. I. Effects of the Knudsen number on aerosol agglomerate growth

Gas-phase synthesis of fine solid particles leads to fractal-like structures whose transport and light scattering properties differ from those of their spherical counterparts. Self-preserving size distribution theory provides a useful methodology for analyzing the asymptotic behavior of such systems. Apparent inconsistencies in previous treatments of the self-preserving size distributions in the free molecule regime are resolved. Integro-differential equations for fractal-like particles in the continuum and near continuum regimes are derived and used to calculate the self-preserving and quasi-self-preserving size distributions for agglomerates formed by Brownian coagulation. The results for the limiting case (the continuum regime) were compared with the results of other authors. For these cases the finite difference method was in good in agreement with previous calculations in the continuum regime. A new analysis of aerosol agglomeration for the entire Knudsen number range was developed and compared with a monodisperse model; Higher agglomeration rates were found for lower fractal dimensions, as expected from previous studies. Effects of fractal dimension, pressure, volume loading and temperature on agglomerate growth were investigated. The agglomeration rate can be reduced by decreasing volumetric loading or by increasing the pressure. In laminar flow, an increase in pressure can be used to control particle growth and polydispersity. For D(f)=2, an increase in pressure from 1 to 4 bar reduces the collision radius by about 30%. Varying the temperature has a much smaller effect on agglomerate coagulation.     

Dications of l-histidine and l-ornithine in layers of copper(II) and cobalt(II) dipicolinato anions

Cobalt(II) and copper(II) dipicolinato complexes having l-histidine and l-ornithine dications are synthesized in water and are characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. X-ray studies reveal that the l-histidine dications are strongly hydrogen bonded and intercalated in the layered structures of dipicolinato complex anions with repeated unit in 1:1 ratio. Whereas l-ornithine dications form hydrogen bonded repeated units of cations and anions in 2:2 ratio. The cations are held in the layered structures formed by the association of the amino acid cations and metal dipicolinato anions supported by water through strong hydrogen-bond interactions. The complexes thus formed are optically active and exhibit specific rotation in the range of +4 to +12°.     

Composition-dependent sintering behaviour of chemically synthesised CuNi nanoparticles and their application in aerosol printing for preparation of conductive microstructures

Copper, nickel and copper–nickel nanoparticles were prepared by solution combustion method for use in direct write printing. Structural (X-ray diffraction) and morphological (transmission electron microscope) investigations showed that pure metal (Cu and Ni) and CuNi alloy particles with face-centred cubic crystal structure were formed. Atomic absorption spectrometer studies confirmed that the nanoparticle compositions corresponded to the initial Cu/Ni molar ratios selected for synthesis. Particle size and morphology were significantly influenced by composition, with high Cu content coinciding with small, spherical particles as opposed to larger, irregular shapes observed at high Ni concentrations. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed that after the reduction process the surface of the alloy nanoparticles was partially oxidised in air and the amount of metallic surface species decreased, while the concentration of oxidic surface species and hydroxides increased with increasing Cu concentration (i.e. decreasing particle size). Dispersions of CuNi nanoparticles have been deposited by use of AerosolJet? and sintered under reducing atmosphere at 300–800?°C in order to prepare conductive structures. Resistivity measurements and microscopical studies (SEM-FIB) of printed and sintered CuNi structures showed that the sintering properties of nanoparticles were dependent on their chemical composition.     

Chelating and bridging diphosphinoamine (PPh2)2N(iPr) complexes of copper(I)

The ligand bis(diphenylphosphino)isopropylamine (dppipa) has been shown to be a versatile ligand sporting different coordination modes and geometries dictated by copper(I). Most of the molecular structures were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. It is found in a chelating mode, in a monomeric complex when the ligand to copper ratio is 2:1. A tetrameric complex is formed when low ratios of ligand to metal (1:2) were used. But with increasing ratios of ligand to metal (1:1 and 2:1), a trimer or a dimer was obtained depending on the crystallization conditions. Variable temperature ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectra of these complexes in solution showed that the Cu–P bond was labile and the highly strained 4-membered structure chelate found in the solid state readily converted to a bridged structures. On the other hand, complexes with the ligand in a bridging mode in the solid state did not form chelated structures in solution. The effect of adding tetra-alkylammonium salts to solutions of various complexes of dppipa were probed by ³¹P{¹H} NMR and revealed the effect of counter ions on the stability of complexes in solution.     

Probing Cu(I)-exchanged zeolite with CO: DFT modeling and experiment

Addition of CO on Cu-exchanged zeolite was investigated by means of quantum chemical calculations based on density functional theory. The aim of this investigation was to get insights about changes of electronic properties of a copper site with zeolite composition by using a CO probe molecule. Calculated nu(CO) frequency values show that various Si/Al ratios of faujasite zeolite reproduce the expected experimental decrease of the nu(CO) values with decreasing Si/Al ratio. These calculations predict that H/Na ratio variations also induce changes in the nu(CO) values. These results illustrate that different compositions of the zeolite change the electronic properties of copper that are reflected in the nu(CO) frequency values. DFT results showed also that different structures and CO adsorption energies are obtained due to various Si/Al and H/Na ratios of the zeolite. Finally, these calculations evidence the possibility for CO to be connected at the same time to Cu(I) and to a close Na cation, Cu being at site II and Na at site II in Cu(I)-exchanged faujasite. A DRIFT experiment on two samples of faujasite, Cu(28)H(51)NaY and Cu(25)H(0)NaY, supports nu(CO) displacements to higher energy values with increasing H/Na ratio.     

New types of metal squarato-phosphonates: condensation of aminodiphosphonate with squaric acid under hydrothermal conditions

The syntheses and crystal structures of the first copper(I) phosphonate, Cu2(H3L)(bipy)(2).2H2O 1 (H5L = C4HO3N(CH2PO3H2)2), which is also the first example of metal phosphonates formed by a type of organic reaction, and a novel luminescent Mn(II) squarate diphosphonate, {Mn[NH(CH2PO3H)2](H2O)2}2{Mn(C4O4)(H2O)4}.(C4H2O4) 2, have been reported. The structure of 1 features a layer architecture in which the Cu(I) centers are three coordinated, and the newly formed ligand acts as a bidentate metal linker. Compound 2 is composed of 1D chains of Mn[NH(CH2PO3H)2](H2O)2, 1D chains of {Mn(C4O4)(H2O)4}, as well as the neutral squaric acid molecules. These three types of building units are interconnected via hydrogen bonding.     

Cooperative binding at lipid bilayer membrane surfaces

The binding of copper(II) ions to membrane-bound synthetic receptors has been investigated. Complexation fitted a 4:1 receptor:copper(II) model, and the observed binding constants are significantly enhanced at the membrane relative to solution; these effects can be explained by the lower polarity of the membrane-water interface and the concentrating effect of the membrane, with no observed contribution from receptor preorganization. The stoichiometry of the complex formed is very sensitive to the concentration of the receptor in the membrane, and at low concentrations, binding is reduced relative to solution controls. This implies that by increasing or decreasing the number of receptors in their membranes, cells can finely tune biological responses such as chemotaxis that depend on the size of the receptor-ligand clusters formed.     

脉冲电沉积抑制锂枝晶生成的研究

采用脉冲充电方法替代传统充电方法,研究了在有机电解液 0.5 mol·L^-1 LiBr/PC (碳酸丙烯酯)中,在铜电极上沉积锂的表面变化. 扫描电镜观测结果显示,在传统直流充电时电极表面明显地出现了枝晶,而使用脉冲充电时能够抑制枝晶的生长. 交流阻抗测试结果显示,在占空比为 0.5 时,沉积锂表面固体电解质界面(solid electrolyte interphase,SEI)膜电阻最大,沉积锂表面枝晶较少;单次脉冲电沉积时间过长,会使沉积锂表面 SEI 膜电阻减小,沉积锂表面枝晶增加;电流密度大于等于 2 mA·cm^-2时,脉冲电沉积可有效抑制枝晶生长.     

Etchant solutions for the removal of Cu(0) in a supercritical CO2-based "dry" chemical mechanical planarization process for device fabrication

The microelectronics industry is focused on increasing chip complexity, improving the density of electron carriers, and decreasing the dimensions of the interconnects into the sub-0.25 mum regime while maintaining high aspect ratios. Water-based chemical mechanical planarization or polishing (CMP) faces several technical and environmental challenges. Condensed CO2 has significant potential for replacing current CMP solvents as a "dry" etching medium because of its unique properties. In working toward a condensed CO2-based CMP process, we have successfully investigated the oxidation and chelation of solid copper metal in liquid and supercritical CO2 using ethyl peroxydicarbonate and a beta-diketone chelating agent.     

Fundamental study on decontamination of tritium from gaseous phases by copper oxide

Some fundamental studies on removal of tritium from gaseous streams by a small column of copper oxide were carried out. An about 10 cm length of column packed with 100 g of copper oxide was examined on the conversion ratios of hydrogen and tritium into water. The experiment with hydrogen of 0.1% in argon showed that the logarithmic plot of remaining ratio of hydrogen by passing through the column is proportional to the reciprocal of gas flow rate and to the length of oxide column. The oxide column was also used for treating tritium-bearing waste gas from an evacuating system of alpha D-T neutron generator. It was observed that at column temperatures lower than 450 degrees C the conversion ratio of tritium in the waste gas into water is considerably smaller than that of hydrogen of 0.1% in argon.