Growth kinetics of amorphous hydrogenated silicon studied by pulsed rf discharge

The growth rate and hydrogen bonding configuration of a-Si:H prepared by a pulsed rf discharge technique were measured as a function of repetition frequency. The result was compared with the case of the gas-phase polymerization of monomers C₂H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆ in a pulsed rf discharge. From distinct difference between the pulsed-plasma depositions of a-Si:H and C:H films, it is concluded that the growth of a-Si:H proceeds through the heterogeneous reactions among chemical species on the substrate surface.     

Surface charge measurement in surface dielectric barrier discharge by laser polarimetry

Measurements of surface charge in a surface dielectric barrier discharge driven in atmospheric air were successfully demonstrated by a laser polarimetry. AC voltage at a frequency of 2 kHz generated the discharge between an exposed electrode and the dielectric barrier over a buried electrode. Although the discharge behaviors varied depending on the polarity of the exposed electrode, there were no differences in the tendency and amplitude of the surface charge accumulation except the polarity. With higher applied voltage, the amount of surface charge became larger and the charge was distributed farther from the exposed electrode.     

A facile preparation, spectroscopic and chemical properties, crystal structures, and electrochemical behavior of monocarbenium ion compounds stabilized by 3-guaiazulenyl and dihydroxyphenyl (or hydroxymethoxyphenyl) groups

Reaction of guaiazulene (8) with 2,3-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (9) in methanol in the presence of hexafluorophosphoric acid (i.e., 65% aqueous solution) at 25 °C for 2 h gives (3-guaiazulenyl)(2,3-dihydroxyphenyl)methylium hexafluorophosphate (13) in 86% yield. Similarly, reaction of 8 with 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (10) [or 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (11) or 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (12)] under the same reaction conditions as for 9 affords the corresponding monocarbenium ion compound 14 (63% yield) [or 15 (43% yield) or 16 (77% yield)], respectively, each product of which is stabilized by 3-guaiazulenyl and dihydroxyphenyl (or hydroxymethoxyphenyl) groups. A facile preparation and crystal structures as well as spectroscopic, chemical, and electrochemical properties of 13-16, possessing two interesting resonance structures, respectively, i.e., a protonated o- (or p-) benzoquinonemethide form and a 3-guaiazulenylium ion form, in a solution of acetonitrile and further, in a single crystal, are reported.     

4-Carbomethoxybenzaldehyde as a highly sensitive pre-column fluorescence derivatization reagent for 9,10-phenanthrenequinone

9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (PQ) is harmful environmental pollutant that is detected in airborne particulates. The measurement of PQ in the air should be necessary to evaluate the potential adverse effects of PQ on human health. We have recently developed a determination method for PQ based on the fluorescence derivatization of PQ using benzaldehyde and ammonium acetate as a reagent. In this study, in order to obtain more sensitive and selective fluorescence derivatization reaction, we measured the fluorescence of the reaction mixture of PQ with 21 kinds of aromatic aldehydes in the presence of ammonium acetate. Among the tested aldehydes, 4-carbomethoxybenzaldehyde was found to be the best reagent in regard to fluorescence intensity and emission wavelength maximum. Based on the fluorescence derivatization with 4-carbomethoxybenzaldehyde, a highly sensitive chromatographic method was developed for the determination of PQ with the detection limit (S/N=3) of 1.2 fmol/injection.     

Liquid marbles prepared from pH-responsive sterically stabilized latex particles

Submicrometer-sized pH-responsive sterically stabilized polystyrene (PS) latex particles were synthesized by dispersion polymerization in isopropyl alcohol with a poly[2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]- (PDEA-) based macroinitiator. These PDEA-PS latexes were extensively characterized with respect to their particle size distribution, morphology, chemical composition, and pH-responsive behavior. Millimeter- and centimeter-sized "liquid marbles" with aqueous volumes varying between 15 μL and 2.0 mL were readily prepared by rolling water droplets on the dried PDEA-PS latex powder. The larger liquid marbles adopted nonspherical shapes due to gravitational forces; analysis of this deformation enabled the surface tension to be estimated. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy studies indicated that flocs of the PDEA-PS particles were adsorbed at the surface of these water droplets, leading to stable liquid marbles. The relative mechanical integrity of the liquid marbles prepared from alkaline aqueous solution (pH 10) was higher than those prepared from acidic aqueous solution (pH 2) as judged by droplet roller experiments. These liquid marbles exhibited long-term stability (over 1 h) when transferred onto the surface of liquid water, provided that the solution pH of the subphase was above pH 8. In contrast, the use of acidic solutions led to immediate disintegration of these liquid marbles within 10 min, with dispersal of the PDEA-PS latex particles in the aqueous solution. Thus the critical minimum solution pH required for long-term liquid marble stability correlates closely with the known pK(a) value of 7.3 for the PDEA stabilizer chains. Stable liquid marbles were also successfully prepared from aqueous Gellan gum solution and glycerol.     

Double Naphthalene‐Tagged Cyclodextrin‐Peptide Capable of Exhibiting Guest‐Induced Naphthalene Excimer Fluorescence

A cyclodextrin‐peptide hybrid (17NNβ) bearing two naphthalene units in the peptide side chain has been designed and synthesized as a novel chemosensor molecule. Circular dichroism study of the compound revealed that the peptide has α‐helix structure with a helix content of 41%. The peptide revealed both monomer and excimer emission and the intensity of the excimer emission increased while that of the monomer emission decreased upon addition of the guest compound. This behavior was observed for various guest molecules, suggesting that the system can be used for detecting molecules in aqueous solution.