Physical properties and structure ofa-Si1−x C x : H alloy films

Summary Two sets ofa-SiC:H films were deposited by glow discharge in an Ar-SiH₄-CH₄ atmosphere to investigate the effect of a variable CH₄/SiH₄ ratio on the physical properties. The composition of the films was determined by resonant nuclear reaction and by Rutherford backscattering measurements, the optical gap and the index of refraction by transmissivity measurements in the visible-UV-NIR range, the bonding configuration by IR transmissivity measurements and the resistivity and the photo-conductivity by electrical measurements in the dark and under a 500 W/m² illumination. Results indicate that with increasing carbon content the refractive index decreases systematically over all wavelengths, the energy gap increases, the dark resistivity increases, the bonding configuration becomes dominated by carbon-containing chains and the structure more disordered.

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Riassunto Sono stati realizzati film dia-SiC:H mediante glow-discharge in atmosfera Ar-SiH₄-CH₄ con differenti rapporti CH₄/SiH₄. La concentrazione di H nei film è stata determinate usando la reazione di risonanza¹H(¹⁵N, αγ)¹²C ed il contenuto di carbonio mediante spettrometria Rutherford-backscattering. Da misure di trasmittanza e riflettanza nella zona UV-visibile-vicino IR sono state ricavate le costanti ottiche, l'indice di rifrazione, la costante dielettrica, il coefficiente di assorbimento e il gap ottico. Un esame delle bande degli spettri vibrazionali dei vari legami CH, CSi e SiH ottenuti mediante misure di trasmissione nell'IR ha fornito un'interpretazione sulla struttura dei film. Sono state anche realizzate misure di conduttività di buio e di fotoconduttività sotto illuminamento di 500 W/m². I risultati indicano che all'aumentare del contenuto di carbonio l'indice di rifrazione diminuisce sistematicamente per tutte le lunghezze d'onda, il gap ottico aumenta, la conduttività di buio diminuisce e nella configurazione strutturale tendono a prevalere le catene contenenti il carbonio.

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Резюме Ъыли осаждены две системы пленокa-SiC:H в атмосфере Ar-SiH₄-CH₄, чтобы исследовать переменного отношения CH₄/SiH₄ на физические свойства. Состав пленок определяется с помощью резонансных ядерных реакций и измерений обратного резерфордовского рассеяния. Также определяются оптичззкся щеяь и показатель преломления с помщяю иемерений пронисаемости в видимойультрафиолетовой-близкой инфракрасной области, конфигурацуя связи с помощью измерений инфракрасной проницаемости и удельное сопротивление и фотопроводимость с помошью єлектрических измерений в темноте м при освешении 500 Bt/M². Полученные результаты покасывают, что с увеличением содержания углерода показатель преомления систематически уменьшается для всех длин волн, єнергетическая щель увеличивается, темновое сопротивление увеличивается, конфигурация связи становится доминирующей за счет углерод-содержащих цепочек и структура становится более разориентировнной.

     

Saturation of the Shepard operators

We discuss the Shepard operators S_n (f; x) in this paper and establish the saturation of the sequence {S_n f} _n-1 ^∞ , as well as investigate some related questions. The research of this author was supported in part by the Hungarian Science Foundation for Research, Grant. N ^o . 1157.     

A new controlled release system of chlorhexidine and chlorhexidine:βcd inclusion compounds based on porous silica

The purpose of this study was to prepare and characterize a controlled release system based on porous silica loaded with chlorhexidine (Cx) and its inclusion compounds in β-cyclodextrin (βcd), and to evaluate its antimicrobial activity. Acetate chlorhexidine (CxA), gluconate chlorhexidine (CxG), βcd:chlorhexidine acetate 2:1 (βcd:CxA) and βcd:chlorhexidine gluconate 2:1 (βcd:CxG) were incorporated into porous silica. Drug loading was characterized by FTIR, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and BET, and was shown to be in an amorphous state and porous matrix. The kinetics release parameter of the drug was established, which showed that the Cx systems release profile followed zero order release until 400 h and Higuchi model release until 750 h, after the burst effect at the first 8 h. Chlorhexidine therapeutic range was reached near first hour for all systems. The chlorhexidine porous silica system was biologically active against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans in vitro. The systems showed an efficient Cx controlled release modulated by the presence of the β-cyclodextrin and by the porous silica matrices, providing effective antimicrobial activity.     

Synthesis of two new thioesters bearing ferrocene: Vibrational characterization and ab initio calculations. X-ray crystal structure of S-(2-methoxyphenyl)ferrocenecarbothioate

Structural and conformational properties of S-benzyl ferrocenecarbothioate (I) and S-(2-methoxyphenyl) ferrocenecarbothioate (II) are analyzed using data obtained from X-ray diffraction, vibrational data and theoretical calculations. According to chemical quantum calculations, the synperiplanar and antiperiplanar forms are found as the first and second more stable conformations, respectively, for the title compounds. The geometric parameters and normal modes of vibration were calculated using a density functional theory method (B3LYP) and the 6-31+G∗∗ basis set for all atoms except for iron. For this atom the calculations were carried out with the Lanl2dz basis set. The calculated parameters are in good agreement with the corresponding X-ray diffraction values. The combined experimental and theoretical approach allows a consistent assignment for most of the fundamental modes.     

Laboratory measurement of sound absorption of occupied pews and standing audiences

Places of worship, as well as other performing spaces or large arenas are characterized by lightweight pews or seats, with moderate or negligible upholstery, leading to very low absorption coefficients. Consequently, the audience becomes the most important sound absorbing element, capable of playing a fundamental role in determining the acoustic characteristics of the space. Consequently accurate knowledge of its acoustic properties is required for any design purpose. Several studies have been carried out with reference to audiences seated on upholstered theatre seats but there is a considerable lack of information about occupied pews. The well known difficulty of taking into account edge effects during such measurements poses further questions as well as the effect of the density of occupation, and the seasonal variations due to clothing. This paper presents the results of a series of laboratory measurements aimed at clarifying such aspects. The measurements showed that the edge effects are negligible and that total absorption is better related to the number of persons present than to the area they cover. Nonetheless, as the density grows, or when the audience is seated, there is a reduction in absorption which may be explained by the reduction in exposed body surface. Lightweight clothes show a considerable reduction in sound absorption over all the frequency bands, suggesting that significant seasonal fluctuations in reverberation time should be expected in places where the audience is the only sound absorbing surface.     

Tunneling control of strongly correlated particles on a lattice: a photonic realization

We propose a photonic realization of tunneling control for two strongly correlated particles moving on a one-dimensional lattice, based on light transport in a square waveguide lattice with a periodically curved axis. We show the photonic analogue of dynamic localization of correlated particles and suggest the possibility to coherently suppress particle interaction.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the thermal gas‐phase oxidation of perfluorobutene‐2 in presence of trifluoromethyl hypofluorite

The oxidation of perfluorobutene‐2 (C₄F₈) initiated by trifluoromethyl hypofluorite (CF₃OF) in presence of O₂ has been studied at 323.1, 332.6, 342.5, and 352.0 K, using a conventional static system. The initial pressure of CF₃OF was varied between 4.8 and 23.6 Torr, that of C₄F₈ between 48.7 and 302.4 Torr, and that of O₂ between 51.5 and 270.4 Torr. Several runs were made in presence of 325.5–451.2 Torr of N₂. The main products were COF₂, CF₃C(O)F, and CF₃OC(O)F. Small amounts of compound containing ? CF(CF₃)? O? C(O)CF₃ group were also formed, as detected by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The oxidation is a homogeneous short‐chain reaction, attaining, at the pressure of O₂ used, the pseudo‐zero‐order condition with respect to O₂ as reactant. The reaction is independent of the total pressure. Its basic steps are as follows: the thermal generation of CF₃O^? radicals by the abstraction of fluorine atom of CF₃OF by C₄F₈, the addition of CF₃O^? to the alkene, the formation of perfluoroalkoxy radicals RO^? in presence of O₂, and the decomposition of these radicals via the C? C bond scission, giving products containing ? C(O)F end group and reforming RO^? and CF₃O^? radicals. The mechanism consistent with experimental results is postulated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 532–541, 2003     

Self-injection length in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3-YBa2Cu3O7-δ ferromagnet-superconductor multilayer thin films

We have carried out extensive studies on the self-injection problem in barrierless heterojunctions between La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ (LCMO) and YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) thin films. The heterojunctions were formed in situ by sequentially growing LCMO and YBCO films on 〈100〉 LaAlO₃ (LAO) substrate using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system. YBCO micro-bridges with 64 μm width were patterned both on the LAO (control) and LCMO side of the substrate. Critical current, I _c, was measured at 77 K on both the control side as well as the LCMO side for different YBCO film thickness. It was observed that while the control side showed a J _c of ∼ 2 × 10⁶ A/cm², the LCMO side showed about half the value for the same thickness (1800 ?). The difference in J _c indicates that a certain thickness of YBCO has become ‘effectively’ normal due to self-injection. From the measurement of J _c at two different thicknesses (1800 ? and 1500 ?) of YBCO films both on the LAO as well as the LCMO side, the value of self-injection length (at 77 K) was estimated to be ∼ 900 ?. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first time that self-injection length has been quantified. A control experiment carried out with LaNiO₃ deposited by PLD on YBCO did not show any evidence of self-injection.