Synthesis of perpendicular nanorod arrays with hierarchical architecture and water slipping superhydrophobic properties

The utilization of vertically aligned smooth gold nanorod arrays with and without nanoporous tip architectures as superhydrophobic surfaces is described. Nanoporous architecture was produced on the tips of nanorods by selectively dissolving less noble components from the alloy nanorods. The resulting nanoscopic dual-size roughness features enhanced the surface dewettability after surface modification with low-surface-energy materials such as long-chain normal alkanethiols and fluorinated organic compounds. The surface cleaning properties were also tested with a rolling water droplet.     

300-MHz 1H-NMR spectra of p-cresol-formaldehyde condensates having regular repeating structures

Model p-cresol-formaldehyde condensates having regular sequences of methylene ether and methylene linkages were prepared by the self-condensation of dimethylol derivatives of p-cresol-formaldehyde condensates (2-hydroxy-5-methyl-1,3-benzenedimethanol, 3,3′-methylene-bis[2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzenemethanol] and 3,3′-[(2-hydroxy-5-methyl-m-phenylene)dimethylene]-bis[2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzenemethanol]). 300-MHz ¹H-NMR spectra of these polymers and of their acylated derivatives were recorded and used to develop resonance assignments for the various types of protons present in these polymers. The spectra were found to be sensitive to end-group and sequence distribution effects.     

Three-dimensional display by use of integral photography with dynamically variable image planes

A computer-generated integral photography system operating with a variable image plane is proposed. In this scheme, the gap between a lens array and a display panel is adjusted in real time. A synchronized elemental image array for real or virtual mode is integrated in front of or behind the lens array. This integration gives an observer an enhanced perception of depth. The proposed method can be applied to animated three-dimensional imaging.     

Arrays of silicon microdischarge devices with multicomponent dielectrics

Arrays as large as 15x15 of microdischarge devices having inverted pyramidal silicon cathodes (50mumx50mum) and SiO(2)- Si(3)N(4)- polymer composite dielectrics have been fabricated and characterized with Ne gas. The lifetimes, reliability, and ignition characteristics of the arrays are superior to those of earlier designs having a single polymer dielectric. Operating voltages as low as 150 V for a 10x10 pixel array and 1000 Torr of Ne have been measured. Single (50mumx50mum) pyramidal cathode devices operate at voltages as low as 113 V when the Ne pressure is 900 Torr.     

Detection of chlorinated methanes by tin oxide gas sensors

Tin oxide thin films prepared by thermal oxidation of Sn films were used for the detection of chlorinated methanes (CH2Cl2, CHCl3 and CCl4). This resulted in better chemical selectivity, sensitivity, response speed and detection limit than seen with previous detectors. The temperature dependence of the sensing of 1% CCl4 gas was studied and the best sensing behavior was observed at 300 degrees C. The films showed different chemical selectivity in both speed and direction of sensing response to each gas and were stable for more than 3 weeks under operating conditions. The films showed rapid gas sensing (<40 s to reach 90% of full response) and low detection limits (< 4 ppm CCl4). The role of oxygen in the detection of chlorinated methanes and in resistance changes without chlorinated methanes was also studied. The changes at the surface of the film after gas sensing were examined using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry.     

Interfacial Aspects of Electrodeposited Conductive Fibers/Epoxy Composites using Electro-Micromechanical Technique and Nondestructive Evaluation

Interfacial adhesion and nondestructive behavior of the electrodeposited (ED) carbon fiber reinforced composites were evaluated using the electro-micromechanical technique and acoustic emission (AE). Interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the ED carbon fiber/epoxy composites was higher than that of the untreated case. This might be expected because of the possible chemical and hydrogen bonding based on an electrically adsorbed polymeric interlayer. Logarithmic electrical resistivity of the untreated single-carbon fiber composite increased suddenly to infinity when the fiber fracture occurred, whereas that of the ED composite increased relatively broadly up to infinity. This may be due to the retarded fracture time as a result of the enhanced IFSS. In single- and 10-carbon fiber composites, the number of AE signals coming from the interlayer failure of the ED carbon fiber composite was much larger than that of the untreated composite. As the number of each first fiber fracture increased in the 10-carbon fiber composite, the electrical resistivity increased stepwise, and the slope of logarithmic electrical resistance increased. In the three-graphite filament composite with a narrow 1 time inter-filament distance, the total numbers of the filament fracture and the IFSS were smaller than those of the wider 5 times case. This might be because the interacting fracture energy caused by a filament break could affect the adjacent filaments. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Quantum confinement in amorphous silicon quantum dots embedded in silicon nitride

Amorphous silicon quantum dots (a-Si QDs) were grown in a silicon nitride film by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Transmission electron micrographs clearly demonstrated that a-Si QDs were formed in the silicon nitride. Photoluminescence and optical absorption energy measurement of a-Si QDs with various sizes revealed that tuning of the photoluminescence emission from 2.0 to 2.76 eV is possible by controlling the size of the a-Si QD. Analysis also showed that the photoluminescence peak energy E was related to the size of the a-Si QD, a (nm) by E(eV) = 1.56+2.40/a(2), which is a clear evidence for the quantum confinement effect in a-Si QDs.