Structural complexity of disordered surfaces: Analyzing the porous silicon SFM patterns

This paper introduces a relative structural complexity measure for the characterization of disordered surfaces. Numerical solutions of 2d+1 KPZ equation and scanning force microscopy (SFM) patterns of porous silicon samples are analyzed using this methodology. The results and phenomenological interpretation indicate that the proposed measure is efficient for quantitatively characterize the structural complexity of disordered surfaces (and interfaces) observed and/or simulated in nano, micro and ordinary scales.     

Biased bilayer graphene: semiconductor with a gap tunable by the electric field effect

We demonstrate that the electronic gap of a graphene bilayer can be controlled externally by applying a gate bias. From the magnetotransport data (Shubnikov-de Haas measurements of the cyclotron mass), and using a tight-binding model, we extract the value of the gap as a function of the electronic density. We show that the gap can be changed from zero to midinfrared energies by using fields of less, approximately < 1 V/nm, below the electric breakdown of SiO2. The opening of a gap is clearly seen in the quantum Hall regime.     

Two-photon induced anisotropy in PMMA film doped with Disperse Red 13

In this paper we present optical anisotropy induced by 150-fs laser pulses operating at 775 nm in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films doped with Disperse Red 13 (DR13). Two-photon absorption of DR13 induces reversible birefringence in the sample, a feature associated with the molecular orientation caused by isomerization of the azochromophores. No irreversible anisotropy, associated with photobleaching of the chromophore was observed. The slope of 2 obtained for the induced birefringence as a function of the excitation irradiance corroborates the two-photon nature of the process.     

Impact of photodepletion to amplified spontaneous emission of proton-transfer dyes in polymeric matrices

A six level rate equation system was used to investigate the impact of photodepletion to amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) of intramolecular proton-transfer (IPT) dyes incorporated into polymeric hosts. The model includes the most important transitions for the normal and tautomer form of the molecule as well as intersystem crossing and triplet–triplet transitions. The experimentally observed pulse shape as well as photodepletion phenomena, i.e. a first order exponential decay of the ASE intensity and a shortening in ASE pulse width, have been simulated successfully. Additionally, the model was used to propose an explanation of the unexpected high photodepletion of proton-transfer dyes in solids. The results show that the emission cross section and reabsorption cross section of the tautomer form of the molecule are the most important parameter not only for efficiency but also for photodepletion. The model was tested by comparison with experimental results of 2-(2’-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) and a 1:1 alternating copolymer matrix PS-co-PMMA. PACS 78.45.th; 42.55.Mv; 42.70.Jk     

Evidence of surface active sites on NaY zeolite by a model reaction

Owing to the development of a new test reaction, namely the isomerization of 1-dodecene, it becomes possible to characterize the activity of cationic zeolites under conditions close to those of industrial adsorption and separation processes (temperature around 150-200 °C and liquid phase). Indeed, 1-dodecene is highly active and still in a liquid state at 150 °C. Furthermore, by comparing the reactivity of NaY before and after treatments applied to reduce its activity ((i) passivation of the external surface by deposition of TetraEthylOrthoSiloxane (TEOS) and (ii) washing the zeolite with a basic or neutral solution), we are able to propose a nature and localization for the residual active sites of this zeolite. Indeed, the evolution of the NaY activity in their function indicates that the active sites are located both at the external and internal surfaces of NaY and that two types of sites can be described: OH groups and structure defects.     

Mössbauer investigation of maghemite-based glycolic acid nanocomposite

Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used in the characterization of a nanocomposite containing magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a glycolic acid-based template. Maghemite nanoparticles were identified as the iron oxide phase dispersed in the polymeric template. From the low-temperature Mössbauer data the amount of the iron-based, non-magnetic material at the nanoparticle surface was estimated as roughly one monolayer in thickness.     

Study of the effect of the oxygen partial pressure on the properties of rf reactive magnetron sputtered tin-doped indium oxide films

The influence of the oxygen partial pressure on the properties of indium tin oxide films deposited by rf reactive magnetron sputtering has been studied. The oxygen partial pressure was varied from 3.2 × 10⁻⁴ to 1.0 × 10⁻³ mbar. It has been found that the 4 × 10⁻⁴ mbar of oxygen partial pressure is a critical point. When the oxygen partial pressure is lower than 4 × 10⁻⁴ mbar, the deposition rate of the films is high; the films have low transmittance and electrical resistivity; the X-ray diffraction shows that the films have a random orientation and the images of the scanning electron microscopy show that the films surface are smooth without structure. When the pressure is higher than 4 × 10⁻⁴ mbar, the deposition rate is low and does not change as the oxygen partial pressure is further increased; the transmittance and the electrical resistivity are both high; the films show the preferred orientation along the (440) direction; the films surface show a clear structure and as the pressure is increased further, the films become porous. Considering both the factor of transmittance and resistivity, the optimum oxygen partial pressure will be 3.6 × 10⁻⁴ mbar. The films prepared at this pressure have 80% transmittance and 9 × 10⁻⁴ Ω cm resistivity.     

Coherence transition in granular YBa2Cu3O7-δ, YBa2Cu2.95Zn0.05O7-δ, and YBa1.75Sr0.25Cu3O7-δ superconductors

We have studied experimentally the electrical magneto-conductivity near the superconducting transition of YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ, YBa₂ (Cu_2.95Zn_0.05)O_7-δ and Y(Ba_1.75Sr_0.25)Cu₃O_7-δ polycrystalline samples. The measurements were performed in magnetic fields ranging from 0 to 400 Oe applied parallel to the current orientation. The results show that the resistive transition of these systems proceeds in two stages. The pairing transition occurs at the bulk critical temperature T_c, where superconductivity is stabilized within small and homogeneous regions of the sample generically called grains. The regime of approach to the zero resistance state reveals the occurrence of a coherence transition at a lower temperature T_c0. This transition is related to the connective nature of the granular samples and is controlled by fluctuations of the order-parameter phase of individual grains. Our experiments show that the Zn-doping, besides depressing the pairing critical temperature, strongly enlarges the temperature range dominated by effects related to the coherence transition. The substitution of Ba by Sr causes only a small reduction of T_c, but also enhances significantly the effects related to the grain coupling phenomenology. In general, our results indicate that these impurity substitutions in YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ produce or magnify the granularity at a microscopic level, enhancing the effects of phase fluctuations in the conductivity near the transition.     

A conserved karyotype of Sternopygus macrurus (Sternopygidae, Gymnotiformes) in the Amazon region: differences from other hydrographic basins suggest cryptic speciation

We studied the karyotypes of 35 Sternopygus macrurus fishes of four localities from rivers of the Eastern Amazon basin. In these four places the karyotypes have 2n = 46 chromosomes, NF = 92, where 30 are metacentric (M) and 16 submetacentric (SM). The constitutive heterochromatin (CH) is found in the centromeric region of most chromosomes and in the pericentromeric region of pairs 5, 17 and 19. Pair 1 has a large and not common heterochromatic block in the short arm, useful as a marker for this species if not found in other Sternopygus taxa. The NOR is located in the distal region of the short arm of pair 1, showing a size heteromorphism in some specimens. The CMA₃ and DAPI fluorochrome bandings and the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), using pantelomeric human probes techniques are described for the first time for this species. DAPI has banding coincident with the C-banded regions, which suggests that the CH is AT base-pair-rich. CMA₃ banding is coincident with the NOR, meaning that this region is GC base-pair-rich. The FISH showed that the probes hybridized only with the telomeric regions, without any sign of interstitial telomeric regions. The karyotype of the samples from different places in the Amazon basin is quite conserved, probably because of the gene flow among the populations. The karyotype differences among the Sternopygus macrurus from the Amazon basin and the São Francisco and Paraná rivers suggest that these taxa may be different species.