Methode d''excitation du spectre Raman d''une couche mince utilisant un reseau a grand nombre de traits

The Raman spectrum of a dielectric substance deposited in a few microns thick film on a diffraction grating (aluminium coating), is obtained with a trapped laser beam inside the film. In order to assure the most efficient coupling, a single mode of propagation is excited in “reverse coupling”; the selection of groove spacing is discussed.     

Edge resonance and zero group velocity Lamb modes in a free elastic plate

The local resonances of a free isotropic elastic plate are investigated using laser ultrasonic techniques. Experimental results are interpreted in terms of zero group velocity Lamb modes and edge mode. At a distance from the edge larger than the plate thickness a sharp resonance is observed at the frequency where the group velocity of the first symmetrical Lamb mode vanishes. Close to the edge of the plate, the resonance due to the edge mode dominates. Both zero group velocity and edge resonances appear at the theoretically predicted frequencies. These frequencies do not vary with the distance from the edge of the plate and the transition between the two modes of vibration, at about the plate thickness, is abrupt. Using a laser excitation on the edge, the amplitude profile of the normal displacement at the edge resonance frequency was determined.     

Surface Modified Single Molecules Free-Diffusion Evidenced by Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

We report on the free diffusion of single molecule near an interface studied using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. In particular, we show that the chemical nature of the substrate may modify the free diffusion of a widely used molecule (rhodamine 6G), thus inducing unexpected effects in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements. Our results show a strong influence, up to a few micrometer from the interface, of the surface polarity. This effect is assessed through the relative weight of the two dimensions diffusion process observed close to the surface. Our results are discussed in terms of competition between surface-solvent, solvent-molecule and molecule-surface specific interactions.     

Synthesis of calix[4]arenes presenting no plane of symmetry

The cyclocondensation of linear phenolic trimers with appropriate 2,6-bis-bromomethylphenols produces calix[4]arenes presenting no symmetry plane.     

Synthesis and characterization of high surface area TiO2/SiO2 mesostructured nanocomposite

Recently titania synthesis was reported using various structuration procedures, leading to the production of solid presenting high surface area but exhibiting moderate thermal stability. The study presents the synthesis of TiO₂/SiO₂ nanocomposites, a solid that can advantageously replace bulk titania samples as catalyst support. The silica host support used for the synthesis of the nanocomposite is a SBA-15 type silica, having a well-defined 2D hexagonal pore structure and a large pore size. The control of the impregnation media is important to obtain dispersed titania crystals into the porosity, the best results have been obtained using an impregnation in an excess of solvent. After calcination at low temperature (400 °C), nanocomposites having titania nanodomains (～2–3 nm) located inside the pores and no external aggregates visible are obtained. This nanocomposite exhibits high specific surface area (close to that of the silica host support, even with a titania loading of 55 wt.%) and a narrow pore size distribution. Surprisingly, the increase in calcination temperature up to 800 °C does not allow to detect the anatase to rutile transition. Even at 800 °C, the hexagonal mesoporous structure of the silica support is maintained, and the anatase crystal domain size is evaluated at ～10 nm, a size close to that of the silica host support porosity (8.4 nm). Comparison of their physical properties with the results presented in literature for bulk samples evidenced that these TiO₂/SiO₂ solids are promising in term of thermal stability.     

Direct functionalization of an optical fiber by a plasmonic nanosensor

We explore a rapid route for fabricating silver nanoparticles (NPs) at the end of an optical fiber. The size and number of silver NPs can be controlled by varying the exposure doses. The effect of the refractive index of different solvents on the extinction spectra have been studied as a proof of concept of a fiber integrated plasmon-based sensor.     

Iodine as a novel and efficient reagent for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles by a three-component condensation of carbonyl compounds, amines, and trimethylsilyl cyanide

A straightforward and general method has been developed for the synthesis of α-aminonitriles by simply combining aldehydes or ketones, amines, and trimethylsilyl cyanides in the presence of a catalytic amount of molecular iodine at room temperature.     

Selective dissolution of TiO2 crystalline phases: Physicochemical characterization and photocatalytic activity

In this study, different commercially available TiO₂ powders (Degussa P25, pure anatase, and rutile) were submitted to selective dissolution treatments, with H₂O₂/NH₄OH and 10% HF, known to remove rutile and anatase from physical mixtures. The aim was to check whether a particular separation method designed to remove a specific crystalline phase influences the properties of the other phase from the mixture or not. More precisely, we have studied how the HF dissolution method designed to selectively remove the anatase affected the physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of rutile. In a similar way, the changes in the anatase properties were studied, after the H₂O₂/NH₄OH treatment, initially used to remove rutile from the mixture. All the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance (DR) ultraviolet–visible, and Raman spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of these powders was tested in the oxidation of p-chlorophenol from water. The selective treatment methods not only dissolved the target phase but also changed some physicochemical and the photocatalytic performances of the other TiO₂ crystalline phase in a considerable manner. These aspects should be taken into account in the studies regarding the synergistic effects of anatase and rutile, especially in reconstructed TiO₂ photocatalysts.