Combinatorial materials research applied to the development of new surface coatings I: a multiwell plate screening method for the high-throughput assessment of bacterial biofilm retention on surfaces

Combinatorial, high-throughput capabilities have been established to aid in the rapid development of new and effective antifouling marine coatings for naval applications. A biological screening process involving marine bacteria was developed that allows for rapid and effective quantification of bacterial biofilm growth and retention on large numbers of coating surfaces in parallel. The screening process involves (1) multiwell plate modifications for coating deposition, (2) deposition of combinatorial coating libraries via an automated liquid dispensing robot, (3) coating thickness measurements of cured coatings, (4) preconditioning of coatings via immersion in deionized water, (5) bacterial incubation, (6) plate processing, and (7) data analysis for identification of promising candidates. The details of the method developed are described in this document.     

The electron energy loss spectrum of LiF in the band gap region

The eels of LiF has been measured in the range 0–18 eV with primary beam energies 50 eV and 1.5 keV. Four peaks are clearly resolved in the band gap region at room temperature. The amplitude of the three lower energy loss peaks was found to depend on beam exposure and temperature. It is concluded that the lowest energy peak arises at a beam induced defect, that the next two peaks arise in lithium metal liberated by the electron beam and that the peak nearest to the band edge is due to an intrinsic surface excitation.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of H, H2 and dopants in hydrogenated amorphous silicon and related materials

Nuclear magnetic resonance has been successfully applied to the study of the microstructure of hydrogenated amorphous silicon and related materials. It has been used to determine the local bonding and structural environment of the host atoms, the hydrogen, and the dopants. First, we review some of these NMR experimental results on the hydrogen microstructure in hydrogentaed amorphous semiconductors and compare the results on plasma deposited hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), remote hydrogen plasma deposited a-Si:H, thermally annealed a-Si:H, doped a-Si:H, microcrystalline Si and amorphous (Si, Ge):H alloys. A common feature is that these materials exhibit a heterogeneous distribution of hydrogen bonded to the semiconductor lattice in dilute and clustered phases. In addition, the lattice contains voids of varying number and size that contain non-bonded molecular hydrogen whose quantity is altered by deposition conditions and thermal treatment. Second, we review some aspects of the local bonding structure of dopants in a-Si:H. A significant fraction of the dopants are found to be in dopant-hydrogen clusters similar to those proposed to explain hydrogen passivation in crystalline silicon. Implications of the determined local structure on the doping efficiency are discussed.     

Synthesis of R(−)-3-Benzyl-5(Methoxycarbonyl-Methylthiomethyl)-Hydantoin,A Potential Chiral Intermediate for (+) Biotin

Abstract

Simple and highly efficient synthesis of R(?)-3-benzyl-5 (methoxycarbonylmethylthiomethyl)-hydantoin (7a) from L(+) Cystine (1) is described.