Calculation method of spin accumulations and spin signals in nanostructures using spin resistors

Determination of spin accumulations and spin currents is essential for a deep understanding of spin transport in nanostructures and further optimization of spintronic devices. So far, they are easily obtained using different approaches in nanostructures composed of few elements; however their calculation becomes complicated as the number of elements increases. Here, we propose a 1-D spin resistor approach to calculate analytically spin accumulations, spin currents and magneto-resistances in heterostructures. Our method, particularly applied to multi-terminal metallic nanostructures, provides a fast and systematic mean to determine such spin properties in structures where conventional methods remain complex.     

Suspension polymerization of thermotropic monomer: Formation of droplets or beads

Ordered beads were obtained by the suspension copolymerization of amesogenic methacrylate-based monomer and methacrylic acid. The stability of these particles and the liquid crystal organization inside the particles depend mainly on the time of polymerization and on the crosslinking. Suspended droplets of monomers or polymers can be obtained as well as solid spheres. The solid particles exhibit ordered microstructures with a liquid crystal configuration that has a variable form depending on polymerization time and observation temperature. Bead characteristics such as morphology, size and polydispersity, and porosity are discussed and compared with those of non-mesomorphic beads. The mesomorphic beads are smaller and their porosity lower. The presence of a crosslinker during the polymerization process leads to more mechanically stable particles with retention of polymorphism.     

Generalized optical theorem and integrated cross-sections

A new method so study the optical theorem when a Coulomb field is present is derived. Screening effects are present without having been explicitely introduced. For very heavy systems the determination of the reaction cross-section from elastic scattering data is shown to be feasible without the use of a model. Finally a digression towards elementary particle physics is given.     

Development of a portable biosensor for screening neurotoxic agents in water samples

A high sensitive portable biosensor system capable of determining the presence of neurotoxic agents in water has been developed. The system consists of (i) a screen-printed electrode with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) immobilized on it, (ii) a self-developed portable potentiostat with an analog to digital (A/D) converter and a serial interface for transferring data to a portable PC and (iii) an own designed software, developed with Lab-Windows CVI, used to record and process the measurements. The system has been developed to perform high precision amperometrical measurements with low drifts, low noise and a good reproducibility. In the configuration depicted, the percentage of AChE inhibition is proportional to the content of neurotoxic agents in a sample. This type of measurement is performed by the steady-state method from the first steady current (by a phosphate buffer solution) and the second steady current (by an enzymatic reaction produced by the addition of acetylthiocholine chloride to the solution). Validation was performed by analyzing spiked water samples containing pesticides. The design is specially suited for screening purposes, does not need sample preconcentration, is totally autonomous and suitable for the field detection of neurotoxic agents in water.     

Pluronics‐Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles: Investigation of the Structure of the Polymer–Particle Hybrid

Hybrid gold–polymer nanoparticles are obtained by self‐assembly of amphiphilic copolymers (Pluronics) in solutions containing preformed gold nanoparticles (diameter ca. 12 nm). Dynamic light scattering, TEM, cryo‐TEM, and small‐angle neutron scattering experiments with contrast variation are used to characterize the structure of the gold–polymer particles. Five Pluronics (F127, F68, F88, F108, P84) with different molecular weights and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balances are investigated. Gold nanoparticles are individually embedded within globules of polymer, even under conditions for which Pluronics micelles do not form in solution. The hybrid particles are several tens of nanometers in size (larger than micelles of the corresponding Pluronics), and the size can be tuned by changing the temperature.     

Aptamer-based zearalenone assay based on the use of a fluorescein label and a functional graphene oxide as a quencher

Microchimica Acta - A versatile and cost-effective aptamer-based fluorescence quenching assay is described for the detection of the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN). Exfoliated functional graphene oxide...     

Introduction of a New Class of Ligands for the Metal-Catalyzed Enantioselective Synthesis

Protected thiosugars were prepared as ligands for the metal-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis. The protecting groups in these ligands were varied to test a proposed new concept for the metal-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis. This new concept centres on the use of a stair-like ligand with a large substituent on one side and a small substitutent on the other rather than the commonly employed ligands which have C₂ symmetry (see Fig.3). In such a ligand, both substituents should have a major influence on the coordination of a prochiral substrate. To test this proposal, 3-thio-α-D -glucofuranose derivatives with the following substituents were synthesized: 1,2-O-isopropylidene-5,6-O-methylidene (see 24 ), 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene (see 2 ), 5,6-O-cyclohexylidene-1,2-O-isopropylidene (see 23 ), 1,2-O-cyclohexylidene-5,6-O-isopropylidene (see 14 ), 1,2:5,6-di-O-cyclohexylidene (see 13 ), 5,6-O-(adamantan-2-ylidene)-1,2-O-isopropylidene (see 21 ), and 1,2:5,6-di-O-(adamantan-2-ylidene) (see 25 , Table 2). As a representative of the allofuranoses, 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-thio-α-D -allofuranose ( 6 ) was chosen. The following derivatives of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D -xylofuranose were also synthesized: 1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-deoxy-3-thio-α-D -xylofuranose ( 29 ), 1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-thio-α-D -xylofuranose ( 28 ) and 5-O-[(tert-butyl)-diphenylsilyl]-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-thio-α-D -xylofuranose ( 15 , see Table 2). The proposed concept was tested using the copper-catalyzed 1,4-addition of BuMgCl to cyclohex-2-en-1-one. The enantioselectivity was very dependent on the ligand used and was up to 58%.     

Alignment of liquid crystal and dichroic dye molecules in mixed Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films

A study of dichroic dye-liquid crystal mixtures (guest-host systems) in monolayers formed at a gas-liquid interface (Langmuir films) and at a solid surface (Langmuir-Blodgett films) has been made. As a host 4- n -octyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl (8CB) or 4- n -pentyl-4″-cyano- p -terphenyl (5CT) were chosen, while three dichroic azo dyes with various molecular structures were used as guest species. The dyes were added to the liquid crystal matrices at a concentration corresponding to the whole range of molar fractions and the surface pressure-mean molecular area isotherms for Langmuir films were recorded. On the basis of the isotherms, conclusions about the molecular organization and the miscibility of the components in the ultrathin films were drawn. The Langmuir films were transferred onto the quartz plates at surface pressures below the collapse point. The polarized absorption spectra of the Langmuir-Blodgett films were recorded and information about the alignment and intermolecular interactions in the mixtures of the non-amphiphilic dichroic dyes and the liquid crystals with strongly polar terminal groups were obtained.     

Screen-printed electrode based on AChE for the detection of pesticides in presence of organic solvents

A screen-printed biosensor for the detection of pesticides in water miscible organic solvents is described based on the use of p-aminophenyl acetate as acetylcholinesterase substrate. The oxidation of p-aminophenol, product of the enzymatic reaction was monitored at 100 mV vs. Ag/AgCl screen-printed reference electrode. Miscible organic solvents as ethanol and acetonitrile were tested. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was immobilised on a screen-printed electrode surface by entrapment in a PVA-SbQ polymer and the catalytic activity of immobilised AChE was studied in the presence of different percentages of organic solvents in buffer solution. The sensor shows good characteristics when experiments were performed in concentrations of organic solvents below 10%. No significant differences were observed when working with 1 and 5% acetonitrile in the reaction media. Detection limits as low as 1.91x10(-8) M paraoxon and 1.24x10(-9) M chlorpyrifos ethyl oxon were obtained when experiments are carried out in 5% acetonitrile.     

Interference-free biosensor based on screen-printing technology and sol-gel immobilization for determination of acetaldehyde in wine

A monoenzymatic amperometric biosensor was developed for the detection of acetaldehyde. The sensor is based on the association of screen-printed carbon electrodes and aldehyde dehydrogenase immobilized by a sol-gel entrapment method. Modification of screen-printed carbon electrodes with Reinecke salt of Meldola's Blue (MBRS) resulted in highly sensitive and interference-free nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH) detectors. Based on MBRS-mediated oxidation of NADH at -150 mV versus pseudo Ag/AgCl, acetaldehyde was determined in the range 10-260 microM, compatible with wine quality monitoring. The method of immobilization based on sol-gel entrapment was optimized to obtain the best compromise between sensitivity and operational stability. The sensor response was stable for 40 consecutive assays with methyltrimethoxysilane used as alkoxide precursor, thus allowing a possible calibration of the sensor before each measurement. The biosensors were used to analyze French wines. The method was validated with a commercially available enzymatic kit based on a standard spectrophotometric method.