Si-based materials and devices for light emission in silicon

We report on the fabrication and performances of extremely efficient Si-based light sources. The devices consist of MOS structures with erbium (Er) implanted in the thin gate oxide. The devices exhibit strong 1.54 μm electroluminescence (EL) at 300 K with a 10% external quantum efficiency, comparable to that of standard light-emitting diodes using III–V semiconductors. Er excitation is caused by hot electrons impact and oxide wearout limits the reliability of the devices. Much more stable light-emitting MOS devices have been fabricated using Er-doped silicon rich oxide (SRO) films as gate dielectric. These devices show a high stability, with an external quantum efficiency reduced to 1%. In these devices, Er pumping occurs by energy transfer from the Si nanostructures to the rare-earth ions. Finally, we have also fabricated MOS structures with Tb- and Yb-doped SiO₂ which show room temperature EL at 540 nm (Tb) and 980 nm (Yb) with an external quantum efficiency of a 10% and 0.1%, respectively.     

How many elements are needed to generate a finite group with good probability?

We prove that for any real number 0<α<1, there exists a constantc _α such that the probability of generating a finite groupG with [d(G)+c _α log log |G| log log log |G|] elements is at least α.     

The electrocopolymerization of styrene with vinyl acetate in an organic solvent

Copolymers of styrene and vinyl acetate were synthesized electrochemically. The reaction system was composed of methylene chloride as the solvent, and a quaternary ammonium salt as the electrolyte. The reactions were run in a divided cell and the influence of current strength, reaction time, and temperature on the yield, molecular weight, and chemical composition of the resulting copolymers was investigated. It was found that the polymer chains were composed mainly of styrene units.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) applied to the analysis of illicit and controlled drugs in blood

A new method for the determination of illicit and abused drugs in blood by capillary zone electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry is proposed, in view of its application in clinical and forensic toxicology. The analytes (methamphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine, methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methadone, cocaine, morphine, codeine, 6-acethylmorphine, benzoylecgonine) were separated with capillary zone electrophoresis by applying 15 kV within 25 min, in an uncoated fused-silica capillary (75 microm x 100 cm) using a 25 mM ammonium formate electrolyte solution (pH 9.5). The capillary electropherograph was coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry through an orthogonal electrospray ionization source, with a coaxial sheath liquid interface. The sheath liquid was composed of isopropanol-water (1:1 v/v) containing 0.5% formic acid delivered at 4 microL/min. Forensic drugs were identified by exact mass determination (mass accuracy typically < or =5 ppm) and by matching of the isotopic pattern. Under optimized conditions, linearity was assessed in the range 10-2000 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients between 0.9744 and 0.9982 for all the analytes. LODs were in the range of 2-10 ng/mL (S/N > or =3) and LOQs of 10-30 ng/mL. The CVs (tested at 40 and 800 ng/mL in biological matrix) were below 2.97% for migration times and below 14.61% for peak area ratios (analyte/internal standard). Blood samples were extracted by using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure and injected under field-amplified sample stacking conditions. The method was successfully applied to real cases.     

Invariable generation of prosoluble groups

A group G is invariably generated by a subset S of G if G = 〈s^g(s) | s ∈ S〉 for each choice of g(s) ∈ G, s ∈ S. Answering two questions posed by Kantor, Lubotzky and Shalev in [8], we prove that the free prosoluble group of rank d ≥ 2 cannot be invariably generated by a finite set of elements, while the free solvable profinite group of rank d and derived length l is invariably generated by precisely l(d ? 1) + 1 elements.     

Self‐Assembling of Er2O3–TiO2 Mixed Oxide Nanoplatelets by a Template‐Free Solvothermal Route

An easy solvothermal route has been developed to synthesize the first mesoporous Er₂O₃–TiO₂ mixed oxide spherical particles composed of crystalline nanoplatelets, with high surface area and narrow pore size distribution. This synthetic strategy allows the preparation of materials at low temperature with interesting textural properties without the use of surfactants, as well as the control of particle size and shape. TEM and Raman analysis confirm the formation of nanocrystalline Er₂O₃–TiO₂ mixed oxide. Mesoscopic ordered porosity is reached through the thermal decomposition of organic moieties during the synthetic process, thus leading to a template‐free methodology that can be extended to other nanostructured materials. High specific surface areas (up to 313 m² g^?1) and narrow pore size distributions are achieved in comparison to the micrometric material synthesized by the traditional sol–gel route. This study opens new perspectives in the development, by solvothermal methodologies, of multifunctional materials for advanced applications by improving the classical pyrochlore properties (magnetization, heat capacity, catalysis, conductivity, etc.). In particular, since catalytic reactions take place on the surface of catalysts, the high surface area of these materials makes them promising candidates for catalysts. Furthermore, their spherical morphology makes them appropriate for advanced technologies in, for instance, ceramic inkjet printers.     

Proof‐of‐Concept Studies Directed toward the Formation of Metallic Ag Nanostructures from Ag3PO4 Induced by Electron Beam and Femtosecond Laser

In this work, for the first time, the instantaneous nucleation and growth processes of Ag nanoparticles on Ag₃PO₄ mediated by femtosecond laser pulses are reported and analyzed. The investigated samples are pure Ag₃PO₄ sample, electron‐irradiated Ag₃PO₄ sample, and laser‐irradiated sample. Complete characterization of the samples is performed using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinements, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). XRD confirms that the irradiated surface layer remains crystalline, and according to EDS analysis, the surface particles are composed primarily of Ag nanoparticles. This method not only offers a one‐step route to synthesize Ag nanoparticles using laser‐assisted irradiation with particle size control, but also reports a complex process involving the formation and subsequent growth of Ag nanoparticles through an unexpected additive‐free in situ fabrication process.     

Essential Oil of the Plants Growing in the Brazilian Amazon: Chemical Composition,Antioxidants, and Biological Applications

Essential oils are biosynthesized in the secondary metabolism of plants, and in their chemical composition, they can be identified different classes of compounds with potential antioxidant and biological applications. Over the years in the Amazon, several species of aromatic plants were discovered and used in traditional medicine. The literature has shown that essential oils extracted from amazon species have several biological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, and antiprotozoal activities. These activities are related to the diversified chemical composition found in essential oils that, by synergism, favors its pharmacological action. In light of this vital importance, this study aimed at performing a review of the literature with particular emphasis on the chemical composition and biological activities in studies conducted with species collected in the Amazon, taking into consideration in particular the last 10 years of collection and research.     

In Silico Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Thymol—Major Compounds in the Essential Oil of Lippia thymoides Mart. & Schauer (Verbenaceae)

In this paper, we evaluated the drug-receptor interactions responsible for the antimicrobial activity of thymol, the major compound present in the essential oil (EO) of Lippia thymoides (L. thymoides) Mart. & Schauer (Verbenaceae). It was previously reported that this EO exhibits antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Therefore, we used molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and free energy calculations to investigate the interaction of thymol with pharmacological receptors of interest to combat these pathogens. We found that thymol interacted favorably with the active sites of the microorganisms’ molecular targets. MolDock Score results for systems formed with CYP51 (C. albicans), Dihydrofolate reductase (S. aureus), and Dihydropteroate synthase (E. coli) were −77.85, −67.53, and −60.88, respectively. Throughout the duration of the MD simulations, thymol continued interacting with the binding pocket of the molecular target of each microorganism. The van der Waals (ΔE_vdW = −24.88, −26.44, −21.71 kcal/mol, respectively) and electrostatic interaction energies (ΔE_ele = −3.94, −11.07, −12.43 kcal/mol, respectively) and the nonpolar solvation energies (ΔG_NP = −3.37, −3.25, −2.93 kcal/mol, respectively) were mainly responsible for the formation of complexes with CYP51 (C. albicans), Dihydrofolate reductase (S. aureus), and Dihydropteroate synthase (E. coli).     

Optical Properties of Lanthanide Doped Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials

Sol-gel matrices have been investigated for some years as potential matrices for rare earth luminescence. Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Dy³⁺, Er³⁺ and Tm³⁺ optical properties in siloxane-zirconium hybrid matrices prepared at room temperature have been investigated. Even if luminescence efficiency is governed by non-radiative relaxation linked to hydroxyl groups, in these matrices, rare earth fluorescence is always observed but lifetimes and quantum yields are dependent on the elaboration procedure. Eu³⁺ is used as a probe of the local surrounding around the dopant and the emission and decay profiles measurements in rare earth doped and undoped matrices are presented.