Sn doping effects on the electro-optical properties of sol gel derived transparent ZnO films

Undoped and tin (Sn) doped ZnO films have been deposited by sol gel spin coating method. The Sn/Zn nominal volume ratio was 1, 3 and 5% in the solution. The effect of Sn incorporation on structural and electro-optical properties of ZnO films was investigated. All the films have polycrystalline structure, with a preferential growth along the ZnO (002) plane. The crystallite size was calculated using a well-known Scherrer's formula and found to be in the range of 26-16 nm. X-ray diffraction patterns of the films showed that Sn incorporation leads to substantial changes in the structural characteristics of ZnO films. The SEM measurements showed that the surface morphology of the films was affected from the Sn incorporation. The highest average optical transmittance value in the visible region was belonging to the undoped ZnO film. The optical band gap and Urbach energy values of these films were determined. The absorption edge shifted to the lower energy depending on the Sn dopant. The shift of absorption edge is associated with shrinkage effect. The electrical conductivity of the ZnO film enhanced with the Sn dopant. From the temperature dependence of conductivity measurements, the activation energy of ZnO film increased with Sn incorporation.     

Synthesis of new iron–NHC complexes as catalysts for hydrosilylation reactions

A series of new piano‐stool iron(II) complexes comprising N‐heterocyclic carbene ligands [Fe(Cp)(CO)₂(NHC)]I (NHC = 1,3‐disubstituted imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene) have been synthesized and analyzed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, elemental analysis and mass spectrometric techniques. These compounds were easily prepared from the reaction of disubstituted imidazolidin‐2‐ylidene with [FeI(Cp)(CO)₂] in toluene at room temperature. These complexes were tested in the catalytic hydrosilylation reaction of aldehydes and ketones with phenylsilane in solvent‐free conditions. After a basic hydrolysis step, the corresponding alcohols were obtained in good yields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trans‐bis(saccharinato)cadmium(II) Complexes with 2‐Aminomethylpyridine and 2‐Aminoethylpyridine — Synthesis,Crystal Structures,Spectral and Thermal Characterization of trans‐[Cd(sac)2(ampy)2] and trans‐[Cd(sac)2(aepy)2]

Two trans‐bis(saccharinato) (sac) complexes of cadmium(II ) with 2‐aminomethylpyridine (ampy) and 2‐aminoethylpyridine (aepy) were synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analysis, FT‐IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. In addition, their solid‐state structures were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The [Cd(sac)₂(ampy)₂] ( 1 ) and [Cd(sac)₂(aepy)] ( 2 ) complexes consist of neutral monomeric units and crystallize in the orthorhombic (Pbca) and monoclinic (P2₁/c) crystal systems, respectively. The cadmium(II ) ions in 1 and 2 sit on inversion centres andexhibit distorted octahedral coordination by two sac anions and two aminopyridine ligands. The sac ligands in both complexes are N‐coordinated and located in trans positions, while the ampy and aepy ligands act as a bidentate ligand forming two symmetrically chelate rings around cadmium(II ). IR spectra and thermal decompositions of the complexes are also discussed.     

Microchip extraction of catecholamines using a boronic acid functional affinity monolith

We report on the development of a rapid enzyme logic gate-based electrochemical assay for the assessment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The concept harnesses a biocatalytic cascade that emulates the functionality of a Boolean NAND gate in order to process relevant physiological parameters in the biochemical domain. The enzymatic backbone ensures that a high-fidelity diagnosis of traumatic brain injury can be tendered in a rapid fashion when the concentrations of key serum-based biomarkers reach pathological levels. The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate and the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase were used here as clinically-relevant input TBI biomarkers, in connection to the low-potential detection of the NADH product in the presence of methylene green at a glassy carbon electrode. A systematic optimization of the gate and the entire protocol has resulted in the effective discrimination between the physiological and pathological logic levels. Owing to its robust design, the enzyme-based logic gate mitigates potential interferences from both physiological and electroactive sources and is able to perform direct measurements in human serum samples. Granted further detailed clinical validation, this proof-of-concept study demonstrates the potential of the electrochemical assay to aid in the rapid and decentralized diagnosis of TBI.     

Cu(II)‐Mediated ATRP of MMA by Using a Novel Tetradentate Amine Ligand with Oligo(ethylene glycol) Pendant Groups

A novel tetradentate amine ligand namely N,N,N′,N″,N‴;,N‴;‐hexaoligo(ethylene glycol) triethylenetetramine (HOEGTETA) was employed in the homogenous ATRP of MMA in anisole using CuBr and CuBr₂ as the catalyst and ethyl 2‐bromoisobutyrate (EBiB) as an initiator. The effect of the polymerization temperature and the various ratios of Cu(I) to Cu(II) were investigated in detail. Moreover, we demonstrated the ATRP of MMA by using only Cu(II) in the absence of any free radical initiator, reducing agent, or air. The ATRP of MMA with the use of only Cu(II) and HOEGTETA or N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA) resulted in well‐defined PMMA.

     

Sequential geoacoustic inversion at the continental shelfbreak

Environmental parameters can have large spatial and temporal variability in shelfbreak regions. The capability of sequential Bayesian filters in tracking this variation is investigated. Particle filtering (PF) is used to extract the environmental parameters and their uncertainties. The method tracks the environment with fewer particles relative to conventional geoacoustic inversion methods using successive independent inversions. As an example, data from the Shallow Water 2006 Experiment are processed. The PF approach first is used to track the source and the environment with little spatial variation just northwest of the shelfbreak. Then the strongly range-dependent shelfbreak region is analyzed and the PF results are compared to previous geoacoustic inversion studies from the region.     

Distribution of maximum loss of fractional Brownian motion with drift

In this paper, we find bounds on the distribution of the maximum loss of fractional Brownian motion with $H\ge 1/2$ and derive estimates on its tail probability. Asymptotically, the tail of the distribution of maximum loss over $[0,t]$ behaves like the tail of the marginal distribution at time $t$.     

Electrical coupling in proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks: mathematical and computational modelling

^** Corresponding author. Email: wetton{at}math.ubc.ca^*** Email: Peter.Berg{at}uoit.ca^**** Email: caglara{at}uwgb.edu^***** Email: kpromisl{at}math.msu.edu^****** Email: jean.st-pierre{at}ballard.com A mathematical model describing the effects of electrical couplingof proton exchange membrane unit fuel cells through shared bipolarplates is developed. Here, the unit cells are described by simple,steady-state, 1D models appropriate for straight reactant gaschannel designs. A linear asymptotic version of the model isused to give analytic insight into the effect of the coupling,including estimates of the extent of the coupling in terms ofthe number of adjacent cells affected. An efficient numericalmethod is developed to solve the non-linear coupled system.Numerical results showing the effects on stack voltage due toa single cell with anomalous oxidant flow rate are given. Theeffects on stack performance due to end plate effects are alsogiven. It is shown that electrical coupling has a significanteffect on fuel cell performance.