Analysis of absorption enhancement in tailor‐made periodic polycrystalline silicon microarrays

We present a design study of 3D photonic poly‐Si microarchitectures on 2 µm periodically textured glass substrates for application as absorber layers in crystalline Si thin‐film solar cells. Different arrays of microholes and microcones were fabricated in a low‐cost process, by combining high rate electron beam evaporation, nanoimprint technology and self‐organized solid phase crystallization. Two promising designs exhibiting strong absorption enhancement were identified by optical analysis. High angular acceptance and calculated maximum achievable short‐circuit current density of 27.6 mA/cm² for an effective Si thickness of 1.1 µm highlight the optical potential of these microarchitectures as broadband absorbers in polycrystalline Si thin‐film solar cells.

     

Cerussite,PbCO3 – a new Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)‐active crystal with high‐order Stokes and anti‐Stokes lasing

Orthorhombic PbCO₃, known as natural crystal cerussite, is presented as a new Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS)‐active crystal. With picosecond laser pumping high‐order Raman‐induced χ⁽³⁾ generation is observed. All registered Stokes and anti‐Stokes sidebands in the visible and near‐IR are identified and attributed to the SRS‐promoting phonon mode A_1g of the carbonate group, with ω_SRS ≈ 1054 cm⁻¹. The first Stokes steady‐state Raman gain coefficient in the visible spectral range is estimated as well to a value not less than 4.6 cm·GW⁻¹.     

Comparison of water isotope-ratio determinations using two cavity ring-down instruments and classical mass spectrometry in continuous ice-core analysis

We present a detailed comparison between subsequent versions of commercially available wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down water isotope analysers (L2120-i and L2130-i, Picarro Inc.). The analysers are used in parallel in a continuous mode by adaption of a low-volume flash evaporation module. Application of the analysers to ice-core analysis is assessed by comparison between continuous water isotope measurements of a glacial ice-core from Severnaya Zemlya with discrete isotope-ratio mass spectrometry measurements performed on parallel samples from the same ice-core. The great advances between instrument versions, particularly in the measurement of δ²H, allow the continuous technique to achieve the same high level of accuracy and precision obtained using traditional isotope spectrometry techniques in a fraction of the experiment time. However, when applied to continuous ice-core measurements, increased integration times result in a compromise of the achievable depth resolution of the ice-core records.     

Effect of different lipid extraction methods on δ13C of lipid and lipid-free fractions of fish and different fish feeds

For many ecological applications of stable carbon isotope techniques, it is necessary to separate the lipid and lipid-free fractions. The effect of different lipid extraction methods on the isotope signature of the remaining lipid-free matter as well as the lipid fraction was tested. A hot extraction form of the Soxhlet method using petrol-ether was compared with two liquid-liquid extraction methods for lipid determination described by Bligh and Dyer and Smedes. Solid samples of fish and different natural food items were subjected to extraction and the carbon isotope ratios in lipid and lipid-free matter determined by IRMS. All methods were suitable for lipid extraction from all samples analysed here and did not cause biologically relevant differences (>1) in carbon isotopic ratios, except the Bligh and Dyer extraction method using chloroform which caused systematic errors for δ ¹³C when applied to diatoms.     

Investigating the rate of photoreductive glucosyl radical generation

The photoreduction of glucosyl halides to generate glucosyl radicals has been investigated to probe the nature of the photoredox cycle. Amine (the reductant) and catalyst concentration affect the reaction rate at low concentrations but exhibit saturation at higher concentrations. Water and hydrophobic catalysts were found to significantly increase the conversion efficiency.     

Characterization of branched ultrahigh molar mass polymers by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation and size exclusion chromatography

The molar mass distribution (MMD) of synthetic polymers is frequently analyzed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled to multi angle light scattering (MALS) detection. For ultrahigh molar mass (UHM) or branched polymers this method is not sufficient, because shear degradation and abnormal elution effects falsify the calculated molar mass distribution and information on branching. High temperatures above 130 °C have to be applied for dissolution and separation of semi-crystalline materials like polyolefins which requires special hardware setups. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) offers the possibility to overcome some of the main problems of SEC due to the absence of an obstructing porous stationary phase. The SEC-separation mainly depends on the pore size distribution of the used column set. The analyte molecules can enter the pores of the stationary phase in dependence on their hydrodynamic volume. The archived separation is a result of the retention time of the analyte species inside SEC-column which depends on the accessibility of the pores, the residence time inside the pores and the diffusion ability of the analyte molecules. The elution order in SEC is typically from low to high hydrodynamic volume. On the contrary AF4 separates according to the diffusion coefficient of the analyte molecules as long as the chosen conditions support the normal FFF-separation mechanism. The separation takes place in an empty channel and is caused by a cross-flow field perpendicular to the solvent flow. The analyte molecules will arrange in different channel heights depending on the diffusion coefficients. The parabolic-shaped flow profile inside the channel leads to different elution velocities. The species with low hydrodynamic volume will elute first while the species with high hydrodynamic volume elute later. The AF4 can be performed at ambient or high temperature (AT-/HT-AF4). We have analyzed one low molar mass polyethylene sample and a number of narrow distributed polystyrene standards as reference materials with known structure by AT/HT-SEC and AT/HT-AF4. Low density polyethylenes as well as polypropylene and polybutadiene, containing high degrees of branching and high molar masses, have been analyzed with both methods. As in SEC the relationship between the radius of gyration (R(g)) or the molar mass and the elution volume is curved up towards high elution volumes, a correct calculation of the MMD and the molar mass average or branching ratio is not possible using the data from the SEC measurements. In contrast to SEC, AF4 allows the precise determination of the MMD, the molar mass averages as well as the degree of branching because the molar mass vs. elution volume curve and the conformation plot is not falsified in this technique. In addition, higher molar masses can be detected using HT-AF4 due to the absence of significant shear degradation in the channel. As a result the average molar masses obtained from AF4 are higher compared to SEC. The analysis time in AF4 is comparable to that of SEC but the adjustable cross-flow program allows the user to influence the separation efficiency which is not possible in SEC without a costly change of the whole column combination.     

Nickel(II) tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolates with N-heterocyclic bases as additional ligands: Synthesis, molecular structure and spectral studies

Three heteroleptic, neutral nickel(II) tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolates with monodentate heterocyclic bases (pyridine, 2-methylpyridine and 3,5-dimethylpyridine) serving as additional ligands have been prepared following the same synthetic procedure. The complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray structure determination and elemental analysis. For complexes 1 and 2, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy have been additionally recorded.Three different coordination motifs have been observed in these complexes. Molecules building tetragonal crystals of [Ni{SSi(O^tBu)₃}₂(C₅H₅N)] (1) feature Ni(II) coordinated by two S,O-chelating tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolato residues and one N atom of pyridine in a strongly distorted trigonal bipyramidal environment. The complex [Ni{SSi(O^tBu)₃}₂(C₆H₇N)₂] (2) forms triclinic crystals and its core atoms adopt a planar geometry with Ni(II) in the middle of the N₂S₂ plane. Molecules of complex [Ni{SSi(O^tBu)₃}₂(C₇H₉N)₂(H₂O)] (3) form orthorhombic crystals with penta-coordinated Ni(II) in a distorted tetragonal pyramidal NiN₂OS₂ environment. Complex 2 roughly mimics one of the two metal centers in the active site of the ACS/CODH enzyme.     

Phenylethylidene-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinoxalin-2-ones: promising building blocks for Cu recognition

A series of sulfonamido-substituted phenylethylidene-3,4-dihydro-1H-quinoxalin-2-one derivatives in which both of the fluorophore and ionophore are integrated into one structural unit, have been investigated. They all exhibit high selectivity toward Cu²⁺ in ethanol in the presence of other metallic ions (Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Ag⁺), as well as fast, stable, and reversible binding, as is evidenced by the observation of a red shift in the UV-vis spectrum, ‘ON-OFF’ fluorescence response. In addition, titration and MALDI-TOF measurements indicated that a 1:1 (and possibly also 2:1 (organic ligand: Cu²⁺) complexes were formed, depending on the relative amount of Cu²⁺ added to the solution of the organic ligand. It was also found that the binding constant could be tuned by modifying the nature and position of the substituents attached to the central benzene ring in the quinoxalone derivative. In acetonitrile, unlike in ethanol, these ligands undergo oxidation-decomposition by Cu²⁺ and therefore, no UV-vVis absorption bands could be observed. However, due to color change (from yellow to transparent) they could be useful as dosimeters in this solvent.     

A microfluidic array with cellular valving for single cell co-culture

We present a highly parallel microfluidic approach for contacting single cell pairs. The approach combines a differential fluidic resistance trapping method with a novel cellular valving principle for homotypic and heterotypic single cell co-culturing. Differential fluidic resistance was used for sequential single cell arraying, with the adhesion and flattening of viable cells within the microstructured environment acting to produce valves in the open state. Reversal of the flow was used for the sequential single cell arraying of the second cell type. Plasma stencilling, along the linear path of least resistance, was required to confine the cells within the trap regions. Prime flow conditions with minimal shear stress were identified for highly efficient cell arraying (～99%) and long term cell culture. Larger trap dimensions enabled the highest levels of cell pairing (～70%). The single cell co-cultures were in close proximity for the formation of connexon structures and the study of contact modes of communication. The research further highlights the possibility of using the natural behaviour of cells as the working principle behind responsive microfluidic elements.