Lossless light projection

A new technique for energy-preserving phase-only light projection is demonstrated. The phase-only encoding is based on an extension of the Zernike phase-contrast method into the domain of full-range [0; 2pi ] phase modulation, breaking the usual small-phase-angle limitation. Controlling the spatial average value of the input-phase pattern and choosing appropriate phase retardation at the phase-contrast filter yield pure-phase-based image formation. Experimental results demonstrate close to 90% energy efficiency. Output intensity levels with magnitudes more than 3.5times that of the input intensity level were measured in the brightest regions of the projected images.     

Separation of Semiconducting Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Using a Long‐Alkyl‐Chain Benzenediazonium Compound

We designed and synthesized 4‐dodecyloxybenzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate ( 1 ), which preferentially reacts with metallic single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by kinetic control. We first determined the suitable experimental conditions for the preferential reaction of 1 with individually dissolved SWNTs by monitoring the decrease in absorbance for the metallic SWNT in the range of 400–650 nm in the absorption spectrum of the SWNTs. The reacted SWNTs were thoroughly rinsed with THF to obtain THF‐insoluble SWNTs. The Raman spectrum of the THF‐insoluble SWNTs showed a strong peak near 180 cm^?1, which corresponds to a semiconducting breathing band. The metallic breathing bands (≈220 cm^?1) and Breit–Wingner–Fano (BWF) modes (1520 cm^?1) corresponding to the metallic SWNTs were much weaker than those of the pristine SWNTs. We also confirmed that metallic peaks in the range of 400–650 nm in the absorption spectrum of THF‐insoluble SWNTs that were individually dissolved in an aqueous micelle of sodium cholate were almost nondetectable. All the results indicate that the THF‐insoluble SWNTs are semiconducting.     

Preparation of adsorbents for affinity chromatography using TSKgel Tresyl-Toyopearl 650M

The optimum conditions for the coupling of proteins were investigated using TSKgel Tresyl-Toyopearl 650M. They were dependent on the proteins coupled. For example, when soybean trypsin inhibitor was coupled at pH 8 the coupling was completed within 1 h and the subsequent adsorption capacity for trypsin was maximal. Longer coupling times decreased the adsorption capacity due to multi-point attachment. The adsorbents obtained were successfully used for affinity chromatography in a short time.     

Dress-up chiral columns for the enantioseparation of amino acids based on fluorous separation

In this paper, we report a new type of chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) column—a so-called dress-up chiral column—featuring a chiral stationary phase adsorbed reversibly in a commercial fluorous HPLC column through fluorous interactions. We synthesized perfluroalkylated proline derivatives as chiral stationary phase compounds and then adsorbed them reversibly in the fluorous HPLC column through the pumping of their solutions. By using this dress-up chiral column and fluorophobic elution of an aqueous copper(II) sulfate/MeOH mixture, we could enantioseparate seven racemic amino acids within 40 min. When we washed the dress-up chiral column with fluorophilic tetrahydrofuran or MeOH, the adsorbed chiral stationary phase compounds desorbed from the column, completely destroying its enantioseparation ability. The relative standard deviation of the retention times, the number of theoretical plates, and the resolution for each of four preparations of the dress-up columns were all less than or equal to 9.53 % in 20-times repeated analysis, and were all less than or equal to 18.7 % in four different preparations, respectively.     

AgI-Ag2O-V2O5 glasses as ion-to-electron transducers for the construction of all-solid-state microelectrodes

A method for the fabrication of ion-selective all-solid-state microelectrodes is presented. The ion-to-electron transduction process takes place into the transducer material. In this approach, AgI-Ag₂O-V₂O₅ glasses, which exhibit ionic and electrical conductivity are applied as ion-to-electron transducers of polymeric membrane microelectrodes. All-solid-state electrodes based on potassium-sensitive poly(vinyl chloride) membranes, deposited directly on the surface of glass composites, exhibited theoretical responses. Their selectivity and durability were comparable to planar microelectrodes containing an internal electrolyte immobilized in the intermediate hydrogel layer. The only disadvantage of the proposed structures was their limited reproducibility. Moreover, it was found that the unmodified AgI-Ag₂O-V₂O₅ glasses can be applied as ion-sensitive membrane of solid-state microelectrodes for the determination of Ag⁺ and I⁻ ions.     

Large-Field X-ray Imaging at SPring-8 BL20B2

The medium-length (215 m) bending-magnet beamline 20B2 is allocated to medical applications and various X-ray micro imaging techniques (e.g., angiography, computed tomography, phase contrast imaging and diffraction topography) [1 S. Goto, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A 467–468, 682–685 (2001).[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]]. The unique properties of BL20B2 are high spatial coherence (large coherent length) and its wide beam cross-section, which come from its long beam transport path and bending magnet light source. The horizontal angular aperture of BL20B2 is 1.5 mrad, as in all bending magnet beamlines at SPring-8. The horizontal beam width at the end station is larger than 300 mm for a 215 m beamline length.     

Liquid‐Crystalline Biomacromolecular Templates for the Formation of Oriented Thin‐Film Hybrids Composed of Ordered Chitin and Alkaline‐Earth Carbonate

Macroscopically ordered inorganic thin films have been formed on unidirectionally oriented, liquid‐crystalline chitin matrices. In the presence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), unidirectionally oriented chitin films act as templates for the formation of oriented thin‐film crystals of alkaline‐earth carbonates such as SrCO₃ and BaCO₃. The morphology and orientation of crystals are dependent on the metal ion concentration. For SrCO₃ crystallization, unidirectional thin films and hexagonal‐shaped thin films have been deposited from 200 and 25 mm concentration strontium solutions, respectively.