Properties of ITO films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering

Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin films were deposited by mid frequency pulsed dual magnetron sputtering using a metallic alloy target with 10 wt.% tin in an atmosphere of argon and oxygen. The aim of the work was to study the interdependence of structural, electrical and optical properties of ITO films deposited in the reactive and transition target mode, respectively. The deposition rate in the transition mode exceeds the deposition rate in the reactive mode by a factor of six, a maximum value of 100 nm·m min⁻¹ could be achieved. This corresponds to a static deposition rate of 200 nm min⁻¹. The lowest electrical resistivity of 1.1·10⁻³ Ω cm was measured at samples deposited in the high oxygen flow range in the transition mode. The samples show a good transparency in the visible range corresponding to extinction coefficients being below 10⁻². X-ray diffraction was used to characterise crystalline structure as well as film stress. ITO films prepared in the transition mode show a slightly preferred orientation in (211) direction, whereas films deposited in the reactive mode are strongly (222) oriented. Compared to undoped In₂O₃ all samples have an enlarged lattice. The lattice strain perpendicular to the surface is about 0.8% and 2.0% for films grown in the transition and the reactive mode, respectively. Deposition in the transition mode introduces a biaxial film stress in the range of −300 MPa, while stress in reactive mode samples is −1500 MPa.     

Novel optically active 1,3-aminoalcohols derived from D-glucal

A series of ethyl(phenyl) 6-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy--D-glucopyranosides (amino=piperidino (Pip), pyrrolidino (Pyr), azetidino (Az), Bu₂N) have been prepared from tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal to obtain catalysts for asymmetric synthesis and the starting compounds for the syntheses of other bidentate ligands.Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 45–52, January, 2000.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic data for adduct formation, cis-trans isomerization and redox reactions of ML4 complexes: a case study with rhodium- and iridium-tropp complexes in d8, d9 and d10 valence electron configurations (tropp=dibenzotropylidene phosphanes)

The formation of adducts of the square-planar 16-electron complexes trans-[M(tropp(ph))(2)](+) and cis-[M(tropp(ph))(2)](+) (M=Rh, Ir; tropp(Ph)=5-diphenylphosphanyldibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene) with acetonitrile (acn) and Cl(-), and the redox chemistry of these complexes was investigated by various physical methods (NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy, square-wave voltammetry), in order to obtain some fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic data for these systems. A trans/cis isomerization cannot be detected for [M(tropp(ph))(2)](+) in non-coordinating solvents. However, both isomers are connected through equilibria of the type trans-[M(tropp(ph))(2)](+)+L<==>[ML(tropp(ph))(2)](n)<==>cis-[M(tropp(ph))(2)](+)+L, involving five-coordinate intermediates [ML(tropp(ph))(2)](n) (L=acn, n=+1; L=Cl(-), n=0). Values for K(d) (K(f)), that is, the dissociation (formation) equilibrium constant, and k(d) (k(f)), that is, the dissociation (formation) rate constant, were obtained. The formation reactions are fast, especially with the trans isomers (k(f)>1x10(5) m(-1) s(-1)). The reaction with the sterically more hindered cis isomers is at least one order of magnitude slower. The stability of the five-coordinate complexes [ML(tropp(ph))(2)](n) increases with Ir>Rh and Cl(-)>acn. The dissociation reaction has a pronounced influence on the square-wave (SW) voltammograms of trans/cis-[Ir(tropp(ph))(2)](+). With the help of the thermodynamic and kinetic data independently determined by other physical means, these reactions could be simulated and allowed the setting up of a reaction sequence. Examination of the data obtained showed that the trans/cis isomerization is a process with a low activation barrier for the four-coordinate 17-electron complexes [M(tropp(ph))(2)](0) and especially that a disproportionation reaction 2 trans/cis-[M(tropp(ph))(2)](0)-->[M(tropp(ph))(2)](+)+[M(tropp(ph))(2)](-) may be sufficiently fast to mask the true reactivity of the paramagnetic species, which are probably less reactive than their diamagnetic equilibrium partners.     

Ferromagnetism in a dinuclear nickel(II) complex containing triethylenetetramine and tricyanomethanide

Triethylenetetramine (L(4)) was used as a tetradentate blocking ligand that, after complexation with Ni(II), leaves two sites ready for ligation with tricyanomethanide. The formed binuclear complex [L(4)Ni(NCC(CN)CN)(2)NiL(4)](ClO(4))(2) exhibits a ferromagnetic coupling with J/hc = +0.15 cm(-1) and g(Ni) = 2.126; below 16 K, a ferromagnetic ordering is evidenced by ac magnetic susceptibility (both in-phase and out-of-phase), magnetization, field-cooled magnetization, and zero-field-cooled magnetization measurements.     

Microelectrode for potassium ions based on a neutral carrier and comparison of its characteristics with a cation exchanger sensor

A potassium-selective liquid-membrane microelectrode based on valinomycin is described. Tip diameters of about 2 μm as well as high discrimination against Na⁺, H₃O⁺, acetylcholine and some other quaternary ammonium ions, allow the intracellular measurement of potassium ion activity changes. The inherently high membrane resistance of the neutral carrier-based microelectrodes is reduced by adding a lipophilic charge carrier to the valinomycin. Results are compared with those of classical microelectrodes.     

Titanocen-cyandithioformiat-Komplexe

The reaction of titanocene dichloride,Cp ₂TiCl₂ (Cp=⁵-C₅H₅), with one or two equivalents of sodium cyanodithioformate affords the new mono- or bis(dithiocarboxylato) derivativesCp ₂TiCl(S₂CCN) (1) andCp ₂Ti(S₂CCN)₂ (2). Elimination of sulfur converts2 into the metallacyclicCp ₂TiS₂C₂(CN)₂ (3), which does not react with the diene isoprene, but can be reconverted into the appropriate titanocene dihalides by chlorine or bromine.