Surface Modification of Fine Particles with a SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Film by Using a Polyhedral-Barrel Sputtering System

Fine particles were modified with a thin film of SnO₂ by using a barrel sputtering system that is a dry process. The conditions for the preparation of SnO₂ were studied by reactive sputtering onto a glass plate substrate. The optimal conditions for the preparation of tetragonal SnO₂ were identified as 60% partial oxygen pressure and 1.0 Pa total gas pressure with the substrate at room temperature. Under the optimized conditions, the surfaces of Al flake particles were modified with a thin film of SnO₂. XRD and SEM/EDS analysis of the prepared samples showed that the Al particle surfaces were uniformly modified by a thin film of SnO₂ in all cases. The film thicknesses were 80, 130, and 180 nm at RF outputs of 195, 350, and 490 W. These measured thicknesses coincided with the values estimated from the interference colors of the samples.     

Importance of single electron-transfer in singlet oxygen reaction in aqueous solution : Oxidation of electron-rich thioanisoles

Oxidation of substituted thioanisoles by chemically generated singlet oxygen was investigated in polar aqueous media. The formation of the superoxide ion was observed during sulphoxidation of 4-hydroxythioanisole (4) in phosphate buffer at pH 7.5. Control experiments indicated that the superoxide ion was formed by a direct reaction between singlet oxygen and 4. The kinetics of the trapping reaction by diphenylsulphoxide indicated the involvement of a single intermediate. The overall rate constants of the reaction of thioanisoles with singlet oxygen in methanol-water (1:1) are one order of magnitude larger than those in benzene. On the basis of these results, a mechanism involving a charge-transfer complex has been proposed for the reaction of electron-rich thioanisoles with singlet oxygen, whereby the charge-transfer complex would produce persulphoxide directly or dissociate to the cation radical and superoxide ion in polar aqueous media.     

Determination of elemental composition of airborne dust and dust suspended in rain

To clarify the magnitude of wash-out effect of rain on the elemental composition of airborne dust and the possible origin of the dust, the dust samples were collected with a high-volume air sampler at the JAERI-Tokai. The dust suspended in rain was also collected from rain by filtration. Up to 20 elements in both types of the dust were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. It was found that the elements determined could be classified into 3 groups from the elemental composition and the elemental correlation in both types of the dust samples.     

Selective capture of 1α,25-(OH)2-previtamin D3 utilizing polymer-supported trialkylsilyl triflate in the synthesis of 1α,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3

Catch and release method utilizing polymer-support was investigated in the separation of 1α,25-(OH)₂ pre- and provitamin D₃. Polymer-supported alkyldiisopropylsilyl triflate selectively captured the previtamin D₃ from a 26:74 mixture of pre- and provitamin D₃ produced by photoisomerization of provitamin D₃.     

Spectroscopic study on the crystal growth in gas evaporation: emission and absorption spectra from Cu smoke

Optical emission and absorption spectra from a growth zone in Cu smoke were measured by using a quartz prism spectrograph and a single-grating spectrophotometer. Atomic lines of Cu, band systems of Cu₂ were observed. Two new band systems with 0–0 band heads at 252.88 and 238.79 nm were found. The continuous spectra due to Rayleigh scattering by fine particles were also observed. Variations of density of various species as a function of vertical position were revealed.     

Classification of integral trees

A finite poset Q is called integral over a field k if there exists an ASL (algebra with straightening laws) domain on Q{–} over k. We classify all trees (rank one connected posets without cycles) which are integral over an infinite field.