Transverse surface waves in a layered structure with a functionally graded piezoelectric substrate and a hard dielectric layer

As to an ideally layered structure with a functionally graded piezoelectric substrate (material parameters change continuously along the thickness direction) and a hard dielectric layer, the existence and propagation behavior of transverse surface waves is studied by analytical technique. The dispersion equations for the existence of the transverse surface waves with respect to phase velocity are obtained for electrically open and short circuit conditions, respectively. A detailed investigation of the effect of gradient coefficient on dispersion relation, electromechanical coupling factor and penetration depth is carried out. It is found by numerical examples that adjusting gradient coefficient makes the electromechanical coupling factor of the transverse surface waves achieve quite high values at some appropriate ratio values of the layer thickness to the wavelength, and at the same time, the penetration depth can be reduced to the same order as the wavelength.     

Propagation of thickness-twist waves in a piezoelectric ceramic plate with unattached electrodes

We analyze the propagation of thickness-twist waves in an unbounded piezoelectric ceramic plate with air gaps between the plate surfaces and two electrodes. These waves are also called anti-plane or shear-horizontal waves with one displacement component only. An exact solution is obtained from the equations of the linear theory of piezoelectricity. Dispersion relations of the waves are obtained and plotted. Results show that the wave frequency or speed is sensitive to the air gap thickness. This effect can be used to manipulate the behavior of the waves and has implications in acoustic wave devices.     

Fast screening of pesticide multiresidues in aqueous samples by dual stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-low thermal mass gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A method for fast screening of pesticide multiresidues in aqueous samples using dual stir bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-low thermal mass gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (dual SBSE-TD-LTM-GC-MS) has been developed. Recovery of 82 pesticides - organochlorine, carbamate, organophosphorous, pyrethroid and others - for the SBSE was evaluated as a function of octanol-water distribution coefficients (logK(o/w): 1.7-8.35), sample volume (2-20mL), salt addition (0-30% NaCl), and methanol addition (0-20%). The optimized method consists of a dual SBSE performed simultaneously on respectively a 20-mL sample containing 30% NaCl and a 20-mL sample without modifier (100% sample solution). One extraction with 30% NaCl is mainly targeting solutes with low K(o/w) (logK(o/w)<3.5) and another extraction with unmodified sample solution is targeting solutes with medium and high K(o/w) (logK(o/w)>3.5). After extraction, the two stir bars are placed in a single glass desorption liner and are simultaneously desorbed. The desorbed compounds are analyzed by use of LTM-GC-MS with fast temperature programming (75 degrees Cmin(-1)) using a 0.18mm i.d. narrow-bore capillary column and fast scanning (10.83 scan s(-1)) using quadrupole MS. The method showed good linearity (r(2)>0.9900) and high sensitivity (limit of detection: <10ngL(-1)) for most of the target pesticides. The method was applied to the determination of pesticides at nanograms per liter levels in river water and brewed green tea.     

Nanoparticle assembly on patterned "plus/minus" surfaces from electrospray of colloidal dispersion

Selective deposition of metal (Au) and oxide (SiO2) nanoparticles with a size range of 10-30 nm on patterned silicon-silicon oxide substrate was performed using the electrospray method. Electrical charging characteristics of particles produced by the electrospray and patterned area created by contact charging of the electrical conductor with non- or semi-conductors were investigated. Colloidal droplets were electrosprayed and subsequently dried as individual nanoparticles which then were deposited on substrates, and observed using field emission-scanning electron microscopy. The number of elementary charge units on particles generated by the electrospray was 0.4-148, and patterned area created by contact charging contained sufficient negative charges to attract multiple charged particles. Locations where nanoparticles were (reversibly) deposited depended on voltage polarity applied to the spraying colloidal droplet and the substrate, and the existence of additional ions such as those from a stabilizer.     

Tuning of band gaps for a two-dimensional piezoelectric phononic crystal with a rectangular lattice

In this paper, the elastic wave propagation in a two-dimensional piezoelectric phononic crystal is studied by considering the mechanic-electric coupling. The generalized eigenvalue equation is obtained by the relation of the mechanic and electric fields as well as the Bloch-Floquet theorem. The band structures of both the in-plane and anti-plane modes are calculated for a rectangular lattice by the planewave expansion method. The effects of the lattice constant ratio and the piezoelectricity with different filling fractions are analyzed. The results show that the largest gap width is not always obtained for a square lattice. In some situations, a rectangular lattice may generate larger gaps. The band gap characteristics are influenced obviously by the piezoelectricity with the larger lattice constant ratios and the filling fractions.     

Scanning near-field optical images of ordered polystyrene particle layers in transmission and luminescence excitation modes

Scanning near-field optical images of hexagonally close-packed layers of polystyrene spherical particles with a diameter of 1.0 microm have been investigated. The layers were composed of particles that were doped either totally or partially with an organic fluorescent dye. Observations were made in the transmission and luminescence excitation modes with a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) with a spatial resolution shorter than the wavelength of light. The patterns observed in the SNOM images are significantly dependent on the microstructures of layers, that is, the layers are either single or double layered, and the particles are either totally or partially doped. These results are discussed in terms of specific modes of electromagnetic waves transmitting across and along the layers after the local excitation at the tip end of the scanning microprobe.     

The kinetics of the thermal pyridine dissociation of pyridine[N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato)]-alkylcobalt(III) in the solid state. Kinetic trans effect of alkyl group

The thermal behavior of RCo(salen)py (R = Me, Et, nPr, iPr, n-Bu, iBu; salen = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminate) dianion; py = pyridine) has been investigated by means of TG, DSC, and isothermal weight-loss measurements. These complexes dissociate 1 mol of pyridine per mole of complex in the temperature range 365–445 K, which is followed by the dissociation of the alkyl group. Kinetic analysis has revealed that the pyridine dissocation reactions fit the contracting disc equation. The electronic nature of the alkyl group has been found to affect the kinetic stability of the Co(III)-alkyl bonding; the more electron-donating group labilizes the Co(III)-py bonding. A linear correlation has been observed between the inductive substitution constants of alkyl groups and the pyridine-dissociation rates at 400 K.     

Functional vibrational spectroscopy of a cytochrome c monolayer: SEIDAS probes the interaction with different surface-modified electrodes

Electrochemically induced infrared difference spectra of cytochrome c on various chemically modified electrodes (CMEs) are recorded by exploiting the surface-enhancement exerted by a granular gold film. We have recently developed surface-enhanced infrared difference absorption spectroscopy (SEIDAS), which provides acute sensitivity to observe the minute enzymatic change of a protein on the level of a monolayer. By these means, we demonstrate that the relative band intensities in the potential-induced difference spectra of adsorbed cytochrome c are significantly dependent on the type of CME used (mercaptopropionic acid, mercaptoethanol, 4,4'-dithiodipyridine, or L-cysteine). These differences are attributed to the altered interaction of cytochrome c with the headgroup of the various CMEs leading to variations in surface orientation and relative distance from the surface. Nevertheless, the peak positions of the observed bands are identical among the CMEs employed. This implies that the internal conformational changes induced by the redox reaction of the adsorbed cytochrome c are not disturbed by the interaction with the CME and that full functionality of the protein is retained. Finally, we critically discuss our results within the framework of the different models for cytochrome c adsorption on CMEs.     

Preconcentration of antimony(III) from water with thionalide loaded on glass beads with the aid of collodion

2-Mercapto-N-2-naphthylacetamide (thionalide) loaded on glass beads with the aid of collodion is used for preconcentration of microgram levels of antimony(III) from aqueous solution. Antimony is quantitatively retained on the loaded beads from 0.4–0.8 mol l^?1 hydrochloric acid solutions; equilibration is achieved within 1 min. The retention capacity of the beads is 0.2 μml Sb g^?1 at 0.6 mol l^?1 hydrochloric acid. The maximum flow rate for quantitative retention is 1.27 ml min^?1 cm^?2. Antimony retained on the column is completely eluted with 10 ml of 6.0 mol l^?1 hydrochloric acid at flow rates<1.9 ml min^?1 cm^?2.