A novel infrared absorbing structure for uncooled infrared detector

In this paper, we proposed a novel infrared absorbing structure for uncooled infrared detectors. The infrared absorber makes use of a quarter-wavelength structure composed of a dielectric layer, a protecting layer, an active layer, a supporting layer and a reflecting layer. Sputtered amorphous silicon is used as a dielectric layer because of its high refractive index. We fabricated the uncooled microbolometer with the proposed infrared absorbing structure by surface micromachining method. Then we characterized various bolometric properties such as thermal conductance, thermal time constant, responsivity and infrared absorptance. The fabricated bolometer showed the thermal conductance of 6.72 × 10⁻⁷ W/K, the thermal mass of 4.43 × 10⁻⁹ J/K, the thermal time constant of 6.6 ms and the responsivity of 7.76 × 10³ V/W at 10 Hz chopper frequency and 9.22 μA bias current. From the results, the estimated absorptance is about 80%. We expect that the proposed absorbing structure shows high infrared absorption and high performance of uncooled microbolometer.     

Fine competition and control among argentophilic,electrostatic, and π···π interactions in a molecular chair structure

The reaction of AgX (X⁻ = NO₃ ⁻, ClO₄ ⁻, or CF₃SO₃ ⁻) with 1,3-bis(3-pyridyl)tetramethyldisiloxane (L) at room temperature affords 20-membered metallacyclodimers, [Ag(L)]₂(X)₂. For the macrocyclodimer, fine competition among argentophilic, electrostatic, and π···π interaction exists. The macrocyclodimer is a unique molecular chair that tunes a transannular argentophilic interaction via the bite size of the counteranions. In order to reversibly control the argentophilic interaction, anion exchange has been accomplished. The anion exchangeability depends on the water solubility rather than the electrostatic interaction between silver(I) and anions.     

Directing Polymorphism in the Helical Nanofilament Phase

Herein, it is reported that the polymorphism in the helical nanofilament (HNF, B₄) liquid-crystalline phase depends on the fabrication methods, that is, UV-driven formation and template-assisted self-assembly in the nanoconfined geometry. As a result, uniaxially oriented HNFs with different helical structures were obtained, in which generation of the twisted-ribbon and cylindrical-ribbon polymorphs showed that even the molecular lattice has a different orientation. The detailed structures were directly observed by SEM and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction with synchrotron radiation. The resultant polymorphs could be used in chiro-optical applications due to the capability for fine control of the helical structures.     

Ultraviolet photodissociation at 266 nm of phosphorylated peptide cations

Ultraviolet (UV) photodissociation (PD) experiments using 266 nm light were performed for a series of phosphopeptide cations in a Fourier transform mass spectrometer. The objective of the experiments was to determine whether 266 nm UV irradiation on the phosphopeptide cations would induce unique peptide backbone dissociation. In addition, the general behavior of the phosphate loss (?80 or ?98 Da) was monitored, particularly for those phosphopeptides with a phosphotyrosine residue that itself is a UV chromophore. For phosphopeptides with a UV chromophore, their photodissociation behavior was very similar to that of low‐energy sustained off‐resonance irradiation collisionally activated dissociation (SORI‐CAD), with a few exceptions. For example, b‐ and y‐type peptide backbone fragments were prevalent, and their dephosphorylation behavior was consistent with that of the SORI‐CAD results. For phosphoserine peptides, the loss of a phosphate group was always observed. On the other hand, for phosphotyrosine peptides, the phosphate loss was found to be dependent on the presence of a basic amino group in the sequence and the charge state of the precursor ions, in agreement with the CAD results in the literature. However, hydrogen atom loss or aromatic side chain loss, which is known to be the excited state specific fragmentation pathway, was rarely observed in our 266 nm UV PD experiments, in contrast to the previous UV PD literature (particularly at 220 nm). The mechanism for these observations is described in terms of dominant internal conversion followed by intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and characterization of crosslinked cellulose/sulfosuccinic acid membranes as proton conducting electrolytes

A series of crosslinked polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared by blending cellulose and sulfosuccinic acid (SA) for fuel cell applications. The crosslinking reaction of membranes occurred via the esterification between –OH of cellulose and –COOH of SA, as confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Both the ion exchange capacity and the proton conductivity increased in proportion to the increase of SA concentrations due to the increasing portion of charged groups in the membrane. In contrast, the water uptake linearly increased up to 25 wt.% of SA concentration, above which it decreased abruptly. The maximum behavior of water uptake may be a result of competitive effect between the increasing number of ionic sites and the increasing degree of crosslinking with the SA concentrations. Wide angle X-ray scattering also showed that the crystalline structures of cellulose disappeared upon the introduction of SA. The mechanical properties of cellulose/SA membranes, i.e., tensile strength at break and Young’s modulus, showed a maximum at 15 wt.% of SA, as revealed by universal testing machine. These membranes exhibited good thermal stability up to 250 °C, as revealed by thermal gravimetric analysis.     

Response time and vendor–assembler relationship in a supply chain

Relationships between an assembler and a vendor in a supply chain are investigated in two-period models when the assembler wants to reduce response time by incentive systems. The assembler may offer myopic or farsighted incentive contracts to the vendor, under short-term or long-term relationships. Incentive schemes, effort levels, and expected payoffs under different perspectives and relationships are examined. We find that a farsighted assembler provides the vendor with a higher incentive than a myopic assembler in the first period. A long (short)-term relationship is preferred if the value of farsightedness under a long-term relationship is greater (less) than the switching option value under a short-term relationship. We propose several sufficient conditions regarding which perspectives and relationships are preferred.     

Practical synthesis of (S)‐7‐(2‐isopropylamino)ethylcamptothecin hydrochloride,potent topoisomerase I inhibitor

A practical semi‐synthetic method of (S)‐7‐(2‐isopropylamino)ethylcamptothecin hydrochloride has been developed. The Mannich reaction of (S)‐7‐methylcamptothecin with isopropylamine hydrochloride in dimethyl sulfoxide as a formaldehyde source gave the desired product in moderate yield.     

Hydrodechlorination of chlorophenols over Pd catalysts supported on zeolite Y,MCM-41 and graphene

Hydrodechlorination (HDC) reaction of chlorophenols was carried out using Pd catalysts supported over zeolite Y, MCM-41 or graphene. Pd-MCM-41 and Pd-Y zeolite were prepared by impregnation and ion-exchange method, respectively. Pd-graphene (Pd-G) was prepared by hydrazine hydrate reduction of palladium ion dispersed on graphene oxide. The catalysts were characterized by several analytical tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). These catalysts were subjected to HDC reaction of chlorophenols, such as 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 2,6-dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) and 3,4-dichlorophenol (3,4-DCP). The reaction rate of HDC of chlorophenols catalyzed by Pd catalysts with various solid bases, such as KF/Al₂O₃ (alumina), sodium acetate (NaOAc) and K₂CO₃ was compared. First, Pd-MCM-41 and Pd-Y catalysts were compared. 2,4- and 3,4-DCPs were completely decomposed within 6 h, in the case of Pd-MCM-41 with NaOAc. Using Pd-Y instead of Pd-MCM-41 with NaOAc, much faster decomposition was observed. Faster decomposition of 4-CP and DCPs was observed with NaOAc base than K₂CO₃ or KF/Al₂O₃ under the same condition. In the case of Pd-Y with KF/Al₂O₃, slower decomposition of 4-CP and DCPs was observed. These base effects were interpreted using the solubility of NaCl and KCl in alcohol and the basic sites of KF/Al₂O₃. Because the solubility of NaCl is known to be larger than KCl solubility in alcohol, byproduct NaCl could be easily dissolved and ionized in solvents. For Pd-Y with KF/Al₂O₃, the small pore size of Y zeolite can interfere with the diffusion of HCl to KF/Al₂O₃ basic site. Second, three catalysts, including Pd-graphene, were compared. 2,4-DCP was decomposed within 2 h using Pd-G with either K₂CO₃, NaOAc or KF/Al₂O₃. Pd-G catalyst showed the highest catalytic activity among Pd-G, Pd-MCM-41 and Pd-Y catalysts. The high activity and stability of the Pd-G could be attributed to the strong metal–support interaction with an electron-deficient site and a critical Pd particle size (ca. 3.5 nm) of Pd-G nanocatalyst with a stronger resistance to the deactivation and good affinity toward aromatic organic molecules, especially phenols. The progress of HDC reaction was monitored by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID), and a feasible degradation process could be explained by analyzing the degradation products such as phenol, cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol from resulting GC chromatograms. The effect of reaction temperature on HDC in Pd-G catalyst was also discussed. In conclusion, Pd-G is an efficient catalyst for decomposition of chlorophenols and can be applied to remediation of chlorophenol-contaminated water under mild conditions.     

Interfacial change on morphological transitions in styrene-isoprene diblock copolymer

The specific interfacial area (S/V) and interfacial thickness in each microstructure of styrene-isoprene diblock copolymer were estimated by analyzing the deviations from Porod’s law. The thermally induced phase transitions proceeded from lamellae (L) to hexagonally ordered cylinder (HEX), via hexagonally perforated layer (HPL) and gyroid (G). The S/V ratio increased stepwise at the order-order transition (OOT) from L to HEX, via HPL and G. The S/V data can be utilized for OOT determination.