Photoluminescence properties of BaMoO4 amorphous thin films

BaMoO₄ amorphous and crystalline thin films were prepared from polymeric precursors. The BaMoO₄ was deposited onto Si wafers by means of the spinning technique. The structure and optical properties of the resulting films were characterized by FTIR reflectance spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical reflectance. The bond Mo-O present in BaMoO₄ was confirmed by FTIR reflectance spectra. XRD characterization showed that thin films heat-treated at 600 and 200 °C presented the scheelite-type crystalline phase and amorphous, respectively. AFM analyses showed a considerable variation in surface morphology by comparing samples heat-treated at 200 and 600 °C. The reflectivity spectra showed two bands, positioned at 3.38 and 4.37 eV that were attributed to the excitonic state of Ba²⁺ and electronic transitions within MoO²⁻₄, respectively. The optical band gaps of BaMoO₄ were 3.38 and 2.19 eV, for crystalline (600 °C/2 h) and amorphous (200 °C/8 h) films, respectively. The room-temperature luminescence spectra revealed an intense single-emission band in the visible region. The PL intensity of these materials was increased upon heat-treatment. The excellent optical properties observed for BaMoO₄ amorphous thin films suggested that this material is a highly promising candidate for photoluminescent applications.     

Metastability of atomic ordering in lead-strontium nitrate solid solutions

A decrease in the anomalous birefringence of ostensibly cubic crystals of (Pb,Sr)(NO₃)₂ during annealing between 280-450 °C shows first-order reaction kinetics with Arrhenius-like temperature dependence. The activation energies associated with this process were 111(5) and 359(17) kJ/mol below 370 °C and above 400 °C, respectively. Such behavior agrees with theoretical predictions and confirms that the ordering of cations is the primary cause of the anomalous birefringence.     

Thermodynamics of interactions between organic ammonium ions and sulfonatocalixarenes

Calorimetric titration and NMR experiments in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) at 298.15 K have been done to determine the binding mode, complex stability constants and thermodynamics (ΔG°, ΔH°, and TΔS°) for 1:1 inclusion complexation of water-soluble calix[n]arenesulfonates (CnAS, n = 4 and 6) and thiacalix[4]arene tetrasulfonate (TCAS) with acethylcholine, carnitine, betaine and benzyltrimethylammonium ion. The results show the inclusion complexations are driven by enthalpy (ΔH° < 0), accompanied by negative entropic changes (ΔS° < 0). The binding affinities (C4AS > C6AS > TCAS) are discussed from the viewpoint of CH-π/π-π interactions, electrostatic interactions and size/shape-fit relationship between host and guest.     

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics and spherulite morphology of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)

The nonisothermal melt crystallization behavior of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) was investigated using the DSC technique. PTT peak exothermic crystallization temperature was found to move to lower temperatures as the cooling rate was increased. The modified Avrami equation exponent, n, was 4 when the cooling rates were between 5 and 15 °C/min, indicating a thermal nucleation and a three-dimensional spherical growth mechanism. When the cooling rate was increased to 25 °C/min, n gradually decreased to near 3, implying the nucleation mechanism changed to an athermal mode. PTT nonisothermal crystallization behavior could also be analyzed using the Ozawa equation and the combined equations of Ozawa and Avrami with very good fit of the data.PTT spherulite morphologies and the sign of the birefringence depended strongly on the spherulite's growth temperature. When the growth temperature was decreased from 222 to 170 °C, the spherulite changed from a saturation-type dendritic morphology to one with a colorful banded texture; the sign of the birefringence also changed in the following order: from a weakly positive spherulite → mixed spherulite → weakly negative spherulite → negative spherulite → positive spherulite → negative spherulite → positive spherulite.     

Temperature-dependent structural study of microporous CsAlSi5O12

CsAlSi₅O₁₂ crystals were synthesized at high temperature by slow cooling of a vanadium oxide flux. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure analysis and electron microprobe analyses yielded the microporous CAS zeolite framework structure of Cs_0.85Al_0.85Si_5.15O₁₂ composition. High-temperature single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction studies were utilized to analyze anisotropic thermal expansion. Rietveld refined cell constants from powder diffraction data, measured in steps of 25 °C up to 700 °C, show a significant decrease in expansion above 500 °C. At 500 °C, a displacive, static disorder-dynamic disorder-type phase transition from the acentric low-temperature space group Ama2 to centrosymmetric Amam (Cmcm in standard setting) was found. Thermal expansion below the phase transition is governed by rigid-body TO₄ rotations accompanied by stretching of T-O-T angles. Above the phase transition at 500 °C all atoms, except one oxygen (O6), are fixed on mirror planes. Temperature-dependent polarized Raman single-crystal spectra between −270 and 300 °C and unpolarized spectra between room temperature and 1000 °C become increasingly less resolved with rising temperature confirming the disordered static-disordered dynamic type of the phase transition.     

Influence of polycaprolactone-triol addition on thermal stability of soy protein isolate based films

The influence of polycaprolatone-triol (PCL-T) on the thermal degradation properties of soy protein isolate (SPI)-based films was studied by thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy under nitrogen atmosphere. The results showed that in the absence of PCL-T the thermal degradation began between 292 °C (pure SPI films) and ca. 264 °C (SPI/SDS films with more than 20% of SDS), and these values decreased further to the range 250-255 °C for SPI/SDS/PCL-T films. At the same time, the temperature of maximum degradation rate (T_max) decreased from 331 °C (pure SPI film) to ca. 280 °C for SPI/SDS/PCL-T films with 39% PCL-T content. This behavior was also confirmed by the activation energy (E) values associated with the thermal degradation process. Apparently, the low thermal stability of PCL-T as compared to other film constituents, along with its plasticizer characteristics, is responsible for the decreased stability of SPI/SDS/PCL-T films. The FTIR spectra of gas products evolved during the thermal degradation indicated the formation of OH, CO₂, NH₃ and other saturated compounds, suggesting that the reaction mechanism involved simultaneous scission of the C(O)-O polyester bonds and C-N, C(O)-NH, C(O)-NH₂ and -NH₂ bonds of the protein.     

Photoinduced optical anisotropy in azobenzene methacrylate block copolymers: Influence of molecular weight and irradiation conditions

The photoinduced anisotropy in a series of azomethacrylate block copolymers with different molecular weights and azo contents has been investigated under several irradiation conditions. Depending on molecular weight and composition, different microstructures (disordered, lamellar, spherical) appear, due to block microsegregation. Measurements of birefringence (Δn) induced with linearly polarised 488 nm light show that the highest (and stable) Δn_N values (birefringence normalised to the azo content) are achieved in copolymers with a lamellar structure. Lower Δn_N are obtained in the copolymers in which azobenzene units segregate to nano spheres and the lowest (and less stable) Δn_N values, appear in disordered systems not showing any defined microstructure. Besides, higher Δn_N is obtained in the copolymers with larger molecular weight of the poly (methyl methacrylate) and the azo polymer blocks, both in the microspheres segregated polymers as well as in those without a clear microstructure. This behaviour is consistent with that of the photoinduced order of azobenzene units obtained from dichroism measurements. Irradiation temperature (from 30 to 90 °C) and light power (from 100 to 500 mW/cm²) also influence the photoinduced response. Photoinduced Δn_N growth rate is faster when both temperature and irradiation power increase. Furthermore, birefringence is only induced at temperatures up to 90 °C, the maximum value being obtained at about 70 °C. No clear dependence of the final Δn_N value with light power has been found.     

Synthesis and properties of organosoluble polyimides based on novel perfluorinated monomer hexafluoro-2,4-toluenediamine

New highly fluorinated aromatic polyimides based on hexafluoro-2,4-toluenediamine and commercially available dianhydrides (6FDA and ODPA) were synthesized by one-pot high temperature polycondensation in benzoic acid melt. Owing to the CF₃ group and fluorine atoms in the meta-linked phenylenediamine fragment, these polyimides combine good solubility in organic solvents including such a low boiling point solvent as chloroform with high glass transition temperatures (330-345 °C), thermal and thermooxidative stability (T₅ is >500 °C). The highly fluorinated polyimide films (hydrogen content is ≤1%) exhibit good dielectric properties and low water absorption as well as excellent optical transparency in the UV-vis region (cut-off wavelength is 311 nm for 6FDA-based and 357 nm for ODPA-based polyimides), which is very important for optoelectronic materials.     

Preparation of chemically sintered ZnO films and their application in dye sensitized solar cells formed on plastic substrates

Meso-porous zinc oxide films were prepared on tin-doped indium oxide-coated, polyethelene naphthalate substrates from binder-free ZnO slurry. The reaction with ammonium hydroxide was found to increase connection between ZnO grains by forming a nano-rod like structure followed by heating at 150 °C. The enhancement of adhesion among ZnO grains was evaluated using a nano-scratch technique. Two different xanthene dyes were used to sensitize ZnO electrodes, with a photo-voltage of 657 mV, fill-factor of 73% and photo-current of 4.1 mA cm⁻² with a maximum light to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of 2.0% being obtained for the plastic based ZnO|mercurochrome|electrolyte solar cell under 1 sun.     

Compared properties of related aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-amide)s

Two series of aromatic poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-amide)s have been synthesized by low-temperature solution polycondensation reaction of equimolar amounts of aromatic diamines containing preformed oxadiazole rings with diacid chlorides having silicon or hexafluoroisopropylidene groups. These polymers are soluble in polar aprotic solvents and show high thermal stability with decomposition temperature being above 400 °C and glass transition temperature in the range of 250-350 °C. The polyoxadiazole-amides have weight- and number-average molecular weights in the range of 207 000-330 000 and 77 000-131 000, respectively. Conformational parameters of these polymers were calculated by Monte Carlo method with allowance for hindered rotation and discussed in relation with thermal properties. Polymer solutions in NMP were processed into thin free-standing films that showed good mechanical properties with tensile strength in the range of 50-100 MPa, tensile modulus in the range of 2.25-3.56 GPa and elongation to break in the range of 1.65-8.58%.     

Novel soluble fluorinated aromatic polyamides derived from 2-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)terephthaloyl chloride with various aromatic diamines

A series of novel fluorinated aromatic polyamides derived from a new monomer, 2-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)terephthaloyl chloride (TFTPC), with various aromatic diamines were synthesized and characterized. The polyamides were obtained in high yields and moderately high inherent viscosities ranging from 1.07 to 1.16 dL/g. All the polyamides were amorphous and readily soluble in many organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N′-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and could afford flexible and tough films via solution casting. The cast films exhibited good mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 82.8-107.3 MPa, elongation at break of 4.1-7.2%, and tensile modulus of 2.26-3.95 GPa. These polyamide films also exhibited good thermal stability with the glass transition temperature of 222-294 °C, the temperature at 5% weight loss of 442-472 °C in nitrogen. They exhibited low dielectric constants ranging from 3.25 to 3.39 (1 MHz), low moisture absorption in the range of 1.32-2.45%, high transparency with an ultraviolet-visible absorption cut-off wavelength in the 330-371 nm range, and excellent electrical properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel polyamides from new aromatic phosphonate diamine monomer

New aliphatic-aromatic and fully aromatic phosphonate polyamides were prepared by polycondensation reaction of our synthesized aromatic diamine: tetraethyl[(2,5-diamino-3,6-dimethylbenzene-1,4-diyl)dimethanediyl]bis(phosphonate) with the specific di-acylchloride (adipoyl chloride, isophthaloyl chloride and terephthaloyl chloride). The chemical structure of all samples were characterized by (¹H and ³¹P) NMR, MALDI-TOF MS, FT-IR tools, whereas their thermal properties were determined by DSC and TGA techniques. The phosponate polyadipamide (referred as PAP) is a semi-crystalline sample with a melting temperature at about 261 °C and glass transition (T_g) of 71 °C. All polymers show two thermal degradation steps in the temperature range 270-550 °C. Each polymer, independently its structure, shows the first maximum rate of thermal decomposition temperature (PDT) around 300-310 °C, which may be due to thermal degradation of phoshonate groups. MALDI-TOF spectra, beside the linear oligomers terminated with the specific groups expected in accord to the synthesis procedure, reveals the presence of cyclic oligomers in the polyadipamide and polyisophthalamide samples.     

Thermal analysis of the melting process of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) using FTIR micro-spectroscopy

Thermal spectra of poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) were collected over a temperature range of 40-250 °C by FTIR micro-spectroscopy. Based on the changes of absorbance ratio corresponding to characteristic groups in low and high vibration energy states, the apparent enthalpy differences of vibration energy states transformation (ΔH_v) in the melting process have been calculated by van’t Hoff equation at constant pressure. In comparison with the values of ΔH_v, the status of participation for the vibration mode of various characteristic groups in PTT macromolecular chain segments was analyzed. It was found that the vibration modes related to the trimethylene glycol unit (O-CH₂-CH₂-CH₂-O) of PTT behaved significant sensitivity and made prominent contribution in the melting process. By the summarization of corresponding data, it has shown that the melting course concerned amorphous phase began at as early as 218 °C, accompanied by the occurrence of crystallization to certain extent, and the ending point was at approximately 238 °C; whereas the melting course concerned crystalline phase began till 228 °C, with the top value of 238 °C, and ended at 242 °C. Besides, for the particular ordered arrangement of chain segments of aromatic polyesters in the melting course, FTIR analysis has provided a reasonable explanation on a molecular level.     

Recrystallization of Cu-poor CuInS2 assisted by metallic Cu or Ag

We monitor the recrystallization of Cu-poor CuInS₂ thin films assisted by pure Cu or pure Ag by means of real-time synchrotron-based polychromatic X-ray diffraction. In both cases a new microstructure is formed accompanied by an increase in grain size. In the case of Cu, the onset temperature of the thin-film recrystallization is higher than 370 °C. In the case of Ag, the thin-film recrystallization comes to an end at 270 °C. The Ag-assisted recrystallization occurs in the presence of the body-centered cubic β-Ag₂S phase. We find that domain growth and diffusion of silver into the film occur simultaneously.     

Characterization of cross-linking structure in terephthalate polyesters formed through material recycling process by pyrolysis-gas chromatography in the presence of organic alkali

Typical terephthalate polyesters such as poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were characterized by pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC) in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide in terms of the cross-linking structure formed during their material recycling. In the pyrograms of PBT and PET thermally treated at 270 °C for 1 h, which were prepared as model polymers containing cross-linking structures, an additional peak was commonly observed as well as the main reactive pyrolysis products for the original polyesters such as dimethyl terephthalate. Based on the observed spectra obtained by Py-GC/mass spectrometry and Py-GC/Fourier transform infrared spectrometry measurements, this peak was assigned to the product reflecting a biphenyl-type cross-linking structure. Furthermore, in the pyrograms of kneaded PBT and PET samples also at 270 °C for a total of 1 h, which were prepared to simulate material recycling, the same peak for the cross-linking structure was also observed, although its intensity was slightly lower than that in the samples thermally treated in air. This fact verified that the biphenyl-type cross-linking structure would be considerably formed during the recycling of PBT and PET, which might in turn contribute to the deteriorated properties of the recycled materials from waste polyesters. Moreover, difference in the formation of the cross-linking between PBT and PET is discussed on the basis of the observed results.     

Effect of temperature variation on the visible and near infrared spectra of wine and the consequences on the partial least square calibrations developed to measure chemical composition

Many studies have reported the use of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to characterize wines or to predict wine chemical composition. However, little is known about the effect of variation in temperature on the NIR spectrum of wine and the subsequent effect on the performance of calibrations used to measure chemical composition. Several parameters influence the spectra of organic molecules in the NIR region, with temperature being one of the most important factors affecting the vibration intensity and frequency of molecular bonds. Wine is a complex mixture of chemical components (e.g. water, sugars, organic acids, and ethanol), and a simple ethanol and water model solution cannot be used to study the possible effects of temperature variations in the NIR spectrum of wine. Ten red and 10 white wines were scanned in triplicate at six different temperatures (25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, 40 °C, 45 °C and 50 °C) in the visible (vis) and NIR regions (400-2500 nm) in a monochromator instrument in transmission mode (1 mm path length). Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) regression models were developed using full cross validation (leave-one-out). These models were used to interpret the spectra and to develop calibrations for alcohol, sugars (glucose + fructose) and pH at different temperatures. The results showed that differences in the spectra around 970 nm and 1400 nm, related to OH bonding were observed for both varieties. Additionally an effect of temperature on the vis region of red wine spectra was observed. The standard error of cross validation (SECV) achieved for the PLS calibration models tended to inverse as the temperature increased. The practical implication of this study it is recommended that the temperature of scanning for wine analysis using a 1 mm path length cuvette should be between 30 °C and 35 °C.     

Optimization of the photocatalytic activity of CdO + CdTiO3 coupled oxide thin films obtained by sol-gel technique

In the preparation of CdO + CdTiO₃ polycrystalline thin films by the sol-gel method, the optical, structural and crystalline properties, as well as the photocatalytic activity (PA) depends strongly on the sintering temperature (Ts) of the films and of the Ti/Cd ratio used in the precursor solution. In this work, CdO + CdTiO₃ thin films were prepared using a Ti/Cd constant ratio in the precursor solution. The films were sintered at six different Ts in the 450-550 °C range, in an open atmosphere. The structure of the films was characterized by X-ray diffraction and the PA was evaluated by the photobleaching of methylene blue in an aqueous solution using a UV-vis spectrometer. The relative intensity of the diffraction peaks associated with CdO and CdTiO₃, change with the Ts. The better photocatalytic activities were obtained for the films sintered at 490 °C and 550 °C. When the CdO was removed from the films by chemical etching the PA decreased, showing the importance of coupling both oxides.     

Preparation and properties of new ortho-linked polyamide-imides bearing ether, sulfur, and trifluoromethyl linkages

A CF₃-containing diamine, 2,2′-thiobis-[4-methyl(2-trifluoromethyl)4-aminophenoxy) phenyl ether] (DA), was successfully synthesized from 2-2′-sulfide-bis-(4-methyl phenol) and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride. The sulfur containing diimide-diacid (DIDA) was prepared by condensation reaction of diamine DA and trimellitic anhydride. A series of novel organic-soluble polyamide-imides (PAIs) bearing flexible ether and sulfide links, electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups and ortho-phenylene units were synthesized from DIDA, by direct polycondensation with various aromatic diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as a condensing agent in the presence of dehydrating agent (LiCl). The polyamide-imides were obtained in high yields and possessed inherent viscosities in the range of 0.42-0.95 dL g⁻¹. All of the polymers were amorphous in nature, showed outstanding solubility and could be easily dissolved in amide-type polar aprotic solvents (e.g., N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide) and even dissolved in less polar solvents (e.g., pyridine and tetrahydrofuran). They showed good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures between 195-245 °C, 10% weight loss temperatures in excess of 485 °C, and char yields more than 50% at 700 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. Moreover, these PAIs possessed low refractive indexes (n = 1.57-1.59) and low birefringence (Δ ≈ 0.02) due to the trifluoromethyl pendent groups and thioether bridged ortho-catenated aromatic rings that interrupt chain packing and increase free volume.     

Potential of front face fluorescence associated to PLS regression to predict nutritional parameters in heat treated infant formula models

This work shows that front face fluorescence spectroscopy associated to partial least squares (PLS) calibration is a fast and simple method to assess the nutritional impact of heat treatment on milk samples.Emission spectra of tryptophan (Trp) and of advanced Maillard products (AMP) were recorded on intact milk samples non-heated and heated at seven temperatures (72 °C, 80 °C, 87 °C, 95 °C, 100 °C, 110 °C and 115 °C) for six different times (from 2 min to 9.5 min) by means of front face fluorescence. PLS calibrations were constructed in order to indirectly quantify three indicators: vitamin C, protein denaturation and accumulation of Maillard products using the fluorescence of advanced Maillard products and soluble tryptophan method (FAST). The prediction models allowed obtaining an estimation of these indicators with a relative error of 12% for vitamin C and about 18% for the FAST index and soluble whey protein ratio.