Design Study of an Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization Interface for GC-MS

This contribution reports on the development of an atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) source interfacing a gas chromatograph (GC) with a bench-top Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer (MS). We present efforts on method development aiming at high temperature stability (325°C), constant low impurity levels upon prolonged source operation, and efficient reaction volume irradiation combined with minimum peak broadening. The performance throughout each iterative development step was carefully assessed. The final GC-APPI-MS setup demonstrated femtogram-on-column sensitivity and chromatographic peaks of Gaussian shape with base peak widths <2 s for even the highest boiling compounds present in different EPA standard mixtures.

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Structurally Defined Molecular Hypervalent Iodine Catalysts for Intermolecular Enantioselective Reactions

Molecular structures of the most prominent chiral non‐racemic hypervalent iodine(III) reagents to date have been elucidated for the first time. The formation of a chirally induced supramolecular scaffold based on a selective hydrogen‐bonding arrangement provides an explanation for the consistently high asymmetric induction with these reagents. As an exploratory example, their scope as chiral catalysts was extended to the enantioselective dioxygenation of alkenes. A series of terminal styrenes are converted into the corresponding vicinal diacetoxylation products under mild conditions and provide the proof of principle for a truly intermolecular asymmetric alkene oxidation under iodine(I/III) catalysis.     

Characterization of the efficiency of microbore liquid chromatography columns by van Deemter and kinetic plot analysis

The efficiency of miniaturized liquid chromatography columns with inner diameters between 200 and 300 μm has been investigated using a dedicated micro‐liquid chromatography system. Fully porous, core–shell and monolithic commercially available stationary phases were compared applying van Deemter and kinetic plot analysis. The sub‐2 μm fully porous as well as the 2.7 μm core–shell particle packed columns showed superior efficiency and similar values for the minimum reduced plate heights (2.56–2.69) before correction for extra‐column contribution compared to normal‐bore columns. Moreover, the influence of extra‐column contribution was investigated to demonstrate the difference between apparent and intrinsic efficiency by replacing the column by a zero dead volume union to determine the band spreading caused by the system. It was demonstrated that 72% of the intrinsic efficiency could be reached. The results of the kinetic plot analysis indicate the superior performance of the sub‐2 μm fully porous particle packed column for ultra‐fast liquid chromatography.     

Compositional and electrical properties of line and planar defects in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films for solar cells – a review

The present review gives an overview of the various reports on properties of line and planar defects in Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)₂ thin films for high‐efficiency solar cells. We report results from various analysis techniques applied to characterize these defects at different length scales, which allow for drawing a consistent picture on structural and electronic defect properties. A key finding is atomic reconstruction detected at line and planar defects, which may be one mechanism to reduce excess charge densities and to relax deep‐defect states from midgap to shallow energy levels. On the other hand, nonradiative Shockley–Read–Hall recombination is still enhanced with respect to defect‐free grain interiors, which is correlated with substantial reduction of luminescence intensities. Comparison of the microscopic electrical properties of planar defects in Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)₂ thin films with two‐dimensional device simulations suggest that these defects are one origin of the reduced open‐circuit voltage of the photovoltaic devices. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

21.0%‐efficient co‐diffused screen printed n‐type silicon solar cell with rear‐side boron emitter

Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is applied to deposit boron silicate glasses (BSG) acting as boron diffusion source during the fabrication of n‐type silicon solar cells. We characterize the resulting boron‐diffused emitter after boron drive‐in from PECVD BSG by measuring the sheet resistances R_sheet,B and saturation current densities J_0,B. For process optimization, we vary the PECVD deposition parameters such as the gas flows of the precursor gases silane and diborane and the PECVD BSG layer thickness. We find an optimum gas flow ratio of SiH₄/B₂H₆= 8% and layer thickness of 40 nm. After boron drive in from these PECVD BSG diffusion sources, a low J_0,B values of 21 fA/cm² is reached for R_sheet,B = 70 Ω/□. The optimized PECVD BSG layers together with a co‐diffusion process are implemented into the fabrication process of passivated emitter and rear totally diffused (PERT) back junction (BJ) cells on n‐type silicon. An independently confirmed energy conversion efficiency of 21.0% is achieved on 15.6 × 15.6 cm² cell area with a simplified process flow. This is the highest efficiency reported for a co‐diffused n‐type PERT BJ cell using PECVD BSG as diffusion source. A loss analysis shows a small contribution of 0.13 mW/cm² of the boron diffusion to the recombination loss proving the high quality of this diffusion source. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Human lactation: oxidation and maternal transfer of dietary 13C-labelled α-linolenic acid into human milk

The origin of fatty acids in milk has not been elucidated in detail. We investigated the contribution of dietary α-linolenic acid (ALA) to human milk fat, its oxidation and endogenous conversion to long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Ten lactating women were given ¹³C-ALA orally, and breath and milk samples were collected for a five-day period, while dietary intakes were assessed. 37.5?±?2.7?% (M?±?SE) of the tracer was recovered in breath-CO₂, and 7.3?±?1.1?% was directly transferred into milk. About 0.25?% of the tracer was found in milk long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Combining intake and milk data, we estimate that about 65?% of milk ALA is directly derived from maternal diet. Thus, the major portion of milk ALA is directly derived from the diet, but dietary ALA does not seem to contribute much as a precursor to milk n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids within the studied time period.     

Preparation and Crystal Structure of Re3O10

Trirheniumdecaoxide, Re₃O₁₀, was obtained by the reaction of ReO₂ and ReO₃ in an arc-melting furnace. X-ray powder diffraction revealed a tetragonal structure with space group I m2 and lattice constants a=5.171(1) and c=13.371(6) Å. The crystal structure is built up by layers of corner-sharing [ReO₅] square pyramids perpendicular to [001] with the apical oxygen pointing up and down alternatingly. These layers are interconnected by disordered [ReO₆] octahedra. Early reports on Re₂O₅ are reviewed in the light of our results.     

Die Kristallstruktur von Lithiummetaperiodat,LiIO4

The Crystal Structure of Lithiummetaperiodate, LiIO₄ For the first time single crystals of LiIO₄ were obtained. According to the results of an X-ray structure determination (monoclinic, P2₁/n; a = 525.5(3), b = 851.1(4), c = 796.9(5) pm, β = 104.21(3)°; Z = 4; 2 148 diffractometer data, R = 0.024) the coordination by oxygen is tetrahedral for iodine and strongly distorted trigonal bipyramidal for lithium. Two lithium-oxygen-polyhedra are connected via a common edge. LiIO₄ crystallises isostructural to LiAlH₄. The structure is discussed and compared to those of other metaperiodates and tetrahydridoaluminates.