Color Displays with Gel-Glass Dispersed Liquid Crystals

Liquid crystal microdroplets trapped into silica gel-glasses by sol-gel processes may be used for display applications. Gel-glass dispersed liquid crystals (GDLC) are switched between opaque and transparent states by applying external AC-voltage signals; no polarizers are required. The feasibility of applying these materials to colored displays has been explored. A comparative study of different dyes for GDLC color displays, which were either embedded in the sol-gel matrix or dissolved in the liquid crystal microdroplets is presented.     

Adsorption configuration and local ordering of silicotungstate anions on Ag(100) electrode surfaces

X-ray reflectivity, cyclic voltammetry, and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) are used to examine the structure of alpha-SiW12O4(4-) or silicotungstic acid (STA) adsorbed on Ag(100) in acid solution. The voltammetry shows that STA passivates the Ag surface relative to electron transfer to a solution redox species. STM images reveal the formation of a series of lattice structures, one of which can be associated with a commensurate ( radical13x radical13)R33.69 degrees structural model. X-ray reflectivity measurements show uniquely that STA orients with its four-fold axis perpendicular to the Ag(100) surface and that the center of the STA molecule is 4.90 A above the top layer of the Ag substrate. Analysis of bond lengths leads to a footprint of STA on Ag(100), in which the four terminal O atoms are located near the hollow sites and have a Ag-O bond length of 2.06 A. This bond length is consistent with a strong covalent interaction between STA and the Ag surface.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Ag2S Nanocrystals in Hyperbranched Polyurethane at Room Temperature

Ag₂S nanoparticles in hyperbranched polyurethane matrix were prepared through the in situ reaction with thioacetamide as the sulfur source at room temperature. Transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed a uniform spherical shape for Ag₂S nanoparticles, with an average size of about 4-10 nm and a narrow size distribution. X-ray powder diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy were also used to characterize the obtained nanoparticles     

Optical properties of ZnO and ZnO:In nanorods assembled by sol-gel method

Self-assembled zinc oxide (ZnO) and indium-doping zinc oxide (ZnO:In) nanorod thin films were synthesized on quartz substrates without catalyst in aqueous solution by sol-gel method. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman-scattering spectroscopy, room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra, and temperature-dependent PL spectra measurements. XRD and Raman spectra illustrated that there were no single In2O3 phase in ZnO lattice after indium doping. The PL spectra of ZnO showed a strong UV emission band located at 394 nm and a very weak visible emission associated with deep-level defects. Indium incorporation induced the shift of optical band gap, quenching of the near-band-edge photoluminescence and enhanced LO mode multiphonon resonant Raman scattering in ZnO crystals at different temperatures. Abnormal temperature dependence of UV emission integrated intensity of ZnO and ZnO:In samples is observed. The local state emission peak of ZnO:In samples at 3.37 eV is observed in low-temperature PL spectra. The near-band-edge emission peak at room temperature was a mixture of excitons and impurity-related transitions for both of two samples.     

Proprietes chimiques des α-hydroxynitrones cycliques: Isomerisation en presence d'un acide d'une α-hydroxynitrone steroidique

The differing stabilities in an acid medium of two isomeric heterocyclic α-hydroxynitrones enables the electrophilic character of the α-hydroxynitrone functional group to be shown towards nucleophiles like water, methanol or the conjugate base of an acid. The electrophilic character is not observed in an alkaline medium where deuteriation experiments have shown the existence of an equilibrium in which an oximo-ketone structure or an anhydrobase is present.     

Isotherme und thermisch stimulierte Depolarisation in Polyäthylen

Zusammenfassung An verschiedenen Modifikationen eines Polyäthylens niederer Dichte wurden thermisch stimulierte Ströme (TSC) und isotherme Depolarisationsströme gemessen. Die thermisch stimulierten Ströme zeigen Maxima im Bereich der ß- und -Relaxationen der molekularen Beweglichkeit des Materials und weitgehende Übereinstimmung mit mechanischen und dielektrischen Verlustfaktormessungen. Die Zeitabhängigkeit isothermer Depolarisationsströme folgt im untersuchten Temperaturbereich 80 bis 320 K einem Potenzgesetzjt ^–n mitn ¨ 1. Die gesamten Depolarisationserscheinungen sind auf die Relaxation in die Polyäthylenkette eingebauter Dipole zurückzuführen und die Ergebnisse können mit Hilfe des Fröhlich-Modells der Dipolorientierung durch ein kontinuierliches Relaxationszeitspektrum beschrieben werden. Die Messung thermisch stimulierter Ströme erweist sich als einfaches Hilfsmittel das Spektrum der molekularen Beweglichkeit abzutasten.Die diesem Vortrag zugrunde liegenden Arbeiten werden mit Mitteln des Bundesministers für Forschung und Technologie im Rahmen des Technologieprogramms gefördert. Die Verantwortung für den Inhalt liegt jedoch allein bei den Autoren.     

Preparation and Characteristics of Porous Silica Films by a Modified Base-Catalyzed Sol-Gel Process Containing PVA: II. Film Preparation

Porous SiO₂ films were successfully deposited on silicon substrates by a modified base-catalyzed Sol-Gel process (MBCP) containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The process conditions, such as the gelation time, the synthesis temperature, the stabilizing agent of the precursor solution and the spin coating speed, the heat-treatment, the annealing temperature of the film on the microstructure and porosity of porous SiO₂ films were systematically investigated by SEM, XRD and ellipsometry techniques. This study provides a novel preparation technique for the porous SiO₂ film. Using this process, the resultant film can reach a thickness of 3.6 m for one layer, a porosity of 25–50%, a low thermal conductivity of 0.11 W/m·K. This film will be used as a low dielectric layer, an thermal-insulating layer and a low refractive index layer.     

Theorems for carbon cages

New theorems are established for cages (or polyhedra) with trivalent vertices. One theorem says that all such cages have at least three Kekulé structures (or perfect matchings). Thence, resonance generally appears as a possibility. Another theorem says that for every even vertex count >70 there is at least one cage of a preferable subclass, while for vertex count <70 the sole preferable cage is that of the truncated icosahedron. Thence, the unique role of the buckminsterfullerene structure for C₆₀ is mathematically indicated.[/p]Work supported by the Welch Foundation of Houston, Texas.     

Fullerenes-extracted soot: a new adsorbent for collecting volatile organic compounds in ambient air

Fullerenes-extracted soot (FES) is the by-product of fullerenes production. Retention characteristics at different temperatures for 17 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on FES are measured. The adsorption and desorption efficiencies for VOCs on FES adsorbent tubes range from 40.8 to 117%, most of them being 100+/-20%. The values are compared with Tenax GR, an adsorbent commonly used in environmental analysis. FES can be used as an adsorbent of low cost to collect VOCs in environmental samples.