Γ andX bandgap hydrostatic deformation potentials for epitaxial In0.52Al0.48As on InP(001)

The pressure dependence of the direct and indirect bandgap of epitaxial In_0.52Al_0.48As on InP(001) substrate has been measured using photoluminescence up to 92 kbar hydrostatic pressure. The bandgap changes from Γ toX at an applied pressure of ∼ 43 kbar. Hydrostatic deformation potentials for both the Γ andX bandgaps are deduced, after correcting for the elastic constant (bulk modulus) mismatch between the epilayer and the substrate. For the epilayer we obtain and+(2.81±0.15)eV for the Γ andX bandgaps respectively. From the pressure dependence of the normalized Γ-bandgap photoluminescence intensity a Γ-X lifetime ratio, (τ_Γ/τ _X ), of 4.1×10⁻³ is deduced.     

Image guide couplers with dielectric coupling elements and radiation reduction

Directional couplers in image guide technique for millimeter-wave circuits are discussed, and steps to improve their properties are demonstrated. The simple two-line-9 dB coupler with periodical coupling is compared to a design with an intermediate dielectric coupling element to reduce the frequency dependence. Radiation from the waveguide bends can be reduced significantly by inserting absorber materials at critical points. Experimental results for a-3 dB coupler are also given.     

Polyethene with pendant fullerene moieties

Polyethene with fullerene moieties pendant on short-chain branches was prepared by the catalytic copolymerization of ethene and a fullerene-containing vinylic comonomer, yielding polyethene copolymers containing up to 25 wt% of C60.     

Thermal Stability Of Folic Acid in the solid-state

This study attempts to identify the degradative process which folic acid undergoes in the solid-state under thermal stress. In order to facilitate the process, the various pieces of the chemical structure, namely, p-amino benzoic acid, pterin and glutamic acid as both its d- and l-isomers were investigated as separate entities. These structured solid-state pieces were then compared to the composite solid state folic acid degradative curves in order to identify the peaks seen and provide direction for the interpolation of the degradative mechanism. It was observed that none of the structural pieces could be superimposed as assumed earlier and hence an attempt was made to identify the decomposition products using various analytical techniques such as infrared spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction which suggested that the glutamic acid fragment is lost first as evidenced by acid loss and amide enhancement in the IR spectra. The vitamin was ultimately degrading to carbon fragments and that further identification was not necessary. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Characterization of some essential oils and their key components: Thermoanalytical techniques

The present study was aimed at determining the kinetics of evaporation and establishing vapor pressure curves for both single and multi-component systems by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Essential oils (e.g. lavender oil, orange oil, clove oil and eucalyptus oil, etc.) are typically multi-component systems consisting of various volatile pure components (e.g. linalyl acetate, limonene, cinnamaldehyde, etc.) which resemble single component systems. In this study linalyl acetate was taken as the calibration compound for TG. The vapor pressure curves for the pure substances were plotted using TG and vapor pressure plots for clove oil and eucalyptus oil were constructed using DSC. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the pure compounds were compared to that of the multi-component systems to quantitatively and qualitatively measure the influence of different compounds on each other. The k-value from the vapor pressure data for linalyl acetate was calculated as 112006 Pa kg^0.5mol^0.5s^-1 m^-2 K^-0.5. The vapor pressure values were used to determine the Antoine constants using the SPSS 10.0 software.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

OXYGEN QUENCHING IN MICELLAR SOLUTION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PHOTOCYCLIZATION OF N-METHYLDIPHENYLAMINE

Abstract— Oxygen effects on the photocyclization of N-methyldiphenylamine to N-methylcarbazole were investigated in n-hexane, water, and aqueous surfactant solutions by steady state irradiations and flash photolysis measurements. The reaction sequence in micelles was found to involve the same intermediate steps as in homogeneous solutions. In aerated micellar solutions, the quantum yield of N-methylcarbazole is significantly higher than in n-hexane, while the rate constants of the unimolecular reaction steps show no solvent dependence. The bimolecular dehydrogenation of the intermediate 4a, 4b-dihydro-N-methylcarbazole by oxygen is enhanced in aqueous and micellar solutions, whereas the quenching rate of triplet intermediates by oxygen was not affected. The lesuhs are interpreted using a dispersed phase model of micellar solutions. Special 'micellar effects' need not be invoked since the dependence of the quantum yield on the solvent is shown to be due to the difference in the overall oxygen concentration.     

Accreditation of reference material producers: the example of IRMM's Reference Materials Unit

The potential approaches for third-party assessment of reference material producers are revisited and the activities of the Reference Materials (RM) Unit of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) to obtain accreditation to ISO Guide 34 and ISO 17025 are described. Accreditation was related to the Unit as all matrix RM activities of the institute are concentrated there. A management system was established that allows sufficient flexibility to be applicable to a wide range of RMs while being precise enough to ensure compliance with ISO Guides 30, 31 and especially 34 and 35. Accreditation was achieved in 2004 with independent scopes for testing and RM production and was confirmed and extended in 2005. The key aspects of the RM Unit's management system for RM production are presented. Presented at BERM-10, April 2006, Charleston, SC, USA     

Electrical Conductance Studies in Aqueous Solutions with Ascorbate Ions

Conductivity measurements in dilute aqueous solutions of L-ascorbic acid, sodium-L-ascorbate, magnesium-L-ascorbate, calcium-L-ascorbate and ferrous-L-ascorbate were performed in the (288.15 to 323.15) K temperature range. The limiting molar conductances of the ascorbic anion, λ^∘(HAsc⁻, T), and the dissociation constants of ascorbic acid, K(T), were derived by the use of the Debye-Hückel equation for the activity coefficients and the Onsager and Quint and Viallard conductivity equations.