Nano-structured surfaces on Ni–Ti generated by multiple shots of interfering femtosecond laser

Combined periodic structures composed of micron-sized periodic structure and nano-sized quasi periodic structure were generated on Ni–Ti target by multiple shots of interfering femtosecond laser beams. The micron-sized structure was generated by the interference pattern of four beams, and the nano-sized quasi period was generated due to the multiple shot effect of femtosecond laser. The structures were investigated in detail by two-dimensional fast Fourier transform (2D-FFT). The power spectra showed small spots and fuzzy spots due to precise period and quasi period, respectively. The most major size of the quasi periodic structure was 580 nm.     

The effect of various calcination treatments on the photocatalytic activity of a rod-type TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> electrode for oxidation of ethanethiol

It was found that the photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity of rod-type TiO₂ electrodes were affected by various post-calcination treatments, for example, calcination in NH₃ or under vacuum. Post-calcination treatment in NH₃ at 773 K was particularly effective in increasing the photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic activity of rod-type TiO₂ electrodes. A unique photoelectrochemical circuit was constructed by connecting a rod-type TiO₂ electrode to a Pt electrode through a silicon solar cell in which the negative bias was applied on the rod-type TiO₂ electrode. It was found that the photoelectrochemical circuit can effectively oxidize ethanethiol in water into CO₂.     

A novel synthesis of half-protected 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds

It has been found that the reaction of enol silyl ethers with 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolane proceeds smoothly in the presence of zinc chloride catalyst to afford half-protected 1,3-dicarbony1 compounds in moderately good yields.     

Structure of dichlorine monoxide as studied by microwave spectroscopy. Determination of equilibrium structure by a modified mass dependence method

The microwave spectra of four isotopic species of dichlorine monoxide (OCl₂) have been observed, and the rotational constants have been obtained. The r_m structure for each isotopic species has been determined by Watson's method. The equilibrium structure has been estimated by taking proper averages of r_m structures to be $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{(OCl) = 1.69587(7)}\text{A}\text{?}$ and ∠_eClOCl = 110.886(6)°. The general applicability and the merit of the present method for estimating the equilibrium structure are pointed out.     

Molecular structure of phosgene as studied by gas electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopy: The rs,rm, and re structures

The microwave spectra of eight isotopic species of COCl₂ have been observed, and the following rotational constants have been obtained: An analysis of the rotational constants has resulted in the r_s and r_m structures. The equilibrium structure, r_e, has been estimated by combining the r_m parameters derived according to Watson's method and the r_e bond distances estimated in our recent electron-diffraction and spectroscopic studies to be $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{(CO}\text{) = 1.1756 ± 0.0023}\text{A}\text{?}$, $\text{r}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{(CCl}\text{) = 1.7381 ± 0.0019}\text{A}\text{?}$, ∠_eClCCl = 111.79 ± 0.24°.     

Aggregation states and surface wettability in films of poly(styrene-block-2-perfluorooctyl ethyl acrylate) diblock copolymers synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization

Well-defined poly(styrene-block-2-perfluorooctyl ethyl acrylate) [P(St-b-PFA)] copolymers with various chemical compositions were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization. Films of P(St-b-PFA) were structurally characterized, from bulk to surface, on the basis of transmittance electron microscopic observation and small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic, and contact angle measurements. For a comparison, poly(styrene-random-2-perfluorooctyl ethyl acrylate) [P(St-ran-PFA)] copolymers were also synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization. While P(St-b-PFA) with the 2-perfluorooctyl ethyl acrylate (PFA) content higher than 18.7 mol % formed a typical phase-separated cylinder structure, P(St-b-PFA) with a lower PFA content and P(St-ran-PFA) were in a miscible state. Since the perfluoroalkyl groups possess extremely low surface energy, they were preferentially segregated at the film surface, resulting in the formation of the PFA surface layer. This was the case for all P(St-b-PFA) films examined, although the aggregation state at the surface was strongly dependent on the PFA content. In the case of the P(St-b-PFA) with the PFA content higher than 18.7 mol %, both advancing and receding contact angles for water were 120 degrees and even larger with almost no hysteresis. In addition, extremely excellent oil-repellent surface properties such as advancing and receding contact angles for dodecane of 76 degrees and 75 degrees were also observed. However, these intriguing liquid-repellent properties were not observed for the films of miscible P(St-b-PFA) and P(St-ran-PFA). Therefore, it can be concluded that the internal structure beneath the surface as well as the surface itself should be deeply considered to design excellent and stable liquid-repellent materials.