Specific counterion effect on the adsorbed film of cationic surfactant mixtures at the air/water interface

To investigate the counterion effects, we employed dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTABr)-dodecyltrimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (DTABF(4)) mixed aqueous solutions and measured their surface tensions, then analyzed these data in a thermodynamic treatment. The tensiometry showed that DTABF(4) was more effective in lowering the surface tension of water. The phase diagram of adsorption demonstrated that the surface was enriched with BF(4)(-) ions, but the composition of Br(-) ions in the adsorbed film was slightly enhanced compared to the ideal mixing criteria. These were explained in terms of the size and polarizability of counterions. Moreover, the distribution of counterions of the DTABr-DTABF(4) mixtures in the adsorbed film is greatly different from that of the 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide (HMIMBr)-1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (HMIMBF(4)) mixtures, where a stronger hydrogen-bonding exists between BF(4)(-) and HMIM(+) ions. These findings suggest that the adsorption of counterions in electric double layers is likely subject to two factors: the nature of counterion and their interactions with surfactant ions.     

Transformation of peptide nanotubes into a vesicle via fusion driven by stereo-complex formation

Two types of peptide nanotubes, one is prepared from an amphiphilic peptide having a right-handed helix segment and the other from that having a left-handed helix segment, are shown to transform the morphology into a vesicle by membrane fusion due to stereo-complex formation between these helical segments.     

Growth limits in platinum oxides formed on Pt-skin layers on Pt-Co bimetallic nanoparticles

The dynamical oxidation processes of Pt-skin layers on Pt(3)Co were investigated in situ and in real-time by time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy combined with electrochemical measurements. Growth limit behaviors and the suppression of higher-order formation of surface oxides were observed, and these might explain the highly durable nature of Pt-skin layers.     

X-ray absorption, photoemission spectroscopy, and Raman scattering analysis of amorphous tantalum oxide with a large extent of oxygen nonstoichiometry

The electronic structure and modification of the local interatomic structure of a reactive sputtered amorphous tantalum oxide (a-TaO(x)) thin film with the variation of oxygen nonstoichiometry, x in a-TaO(x) have been investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), Raman scattering spectroscopy, and Rutherford back scattering spectroscopy. A parallel chemical shift of Ta4f(7/2) and O1s core levels observed with the variation of x indicates the Fermi level shift by reduction and oxidation in the framework of the rigid band model. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) suggests both the increase of average coordination number of the first Ta-O shell in polyhedra and a considerable reduction of the average Ta-O bond length with the increase of x. The relative intensity of Raman shift peaks at 670 cm(-1) and 815 cm(-1), corresponding to Ta-O stretching of TaO(6) octahedra and TaO(5) probably with a pyramidal form, respectively, drastically changes between x = 2.47 to 1.86, suggesting the change in the predominant polyhedron from TaO(6) to TaO(5) with a modification in multiplicity of oxygen by the reorganization of the polyhedral network.     

Control of the Solid‐State Chiral Optical Properties of a Supramolecular Organic Fluorophore Containing 4‐(2‐Arylethynyl)‐Benzoic Acid

The solid‐state chiral optical properties of a 4‐(2‐arylethynyl)‐benzoic acid/amine supramolecular organic fluorophore can be controlled by changing the arylethynyl group of the achiral 4‐(2‐arylethynyl)‐benzoic acid component molecule rather than the chirality of the amine component molecule.     

The annealing behavior of hydrogen implanted into Al-1.5 at.% Si alloy

We have studied effects of added elements as well as defects on trap-sites of hydrogen in metals. For the purpose, we observed depth profiles and thermal behaviors of hydrogen implanted into Al-1.5 at.% Si alloy samples in an implantation-temperature range of liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT) to 373 K at different doses. The results were compared with those for pure aluminum samples. It was found that hydrogen is trapped as molecules in grain boundaries of Al/Si.     

Chaos in Fiber-Optic Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Dependent on Pump Power, Nonlinear Refractive Index, Feedback Power, and Fiber Length

Dependence of Stokes dynamics in stimulated Brillouin scattering generated in optical fibers on the pump power, the nonlinear refractive index, the fiber length, and the feedback powers of the pump and the Stokes is numerically analyzed. The Stokes power fluctuation becomes complicated and chaotic as the nonlinear refractive index and the input pump power increase in a fiber of sufficient length. The Stokes dynamics is less complicated and the chaotic region decreases in a pump power-reflectivity domain in a short fiber. The chaotic behavior appears without regular tendency in relation to the feedback power. Taking into account the pump feedback, the chaotic region expands and some Stokes behaviors are different in the P_P-R domain graph, compared with the case with the Stokes feedback alone, although this feedback does play an essential role in Stokes dynamics.     

Detection limit estimated from slope of calibration curve: an application to competitive ELISA.

This paper theoretically derives a general rule that while the slope of the semi-logarithmic plot (Y vs. log X) of a calibration curve varies depending on analyte concentration, X, the slope takes a specific value at the detection limit (L(D)). This rule holds good irrespective of the shape of the calibration curve (linear or non-linear) and in this paper, is applied to competitive ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay). The following relationship is deduced: slope of log-dose B/B0 at L(D) = [relative standard deviation (RSD) of blank responses] / 0.13. The L(D) obtained from the above-mentioned slope corresponds to the dose at which the RSD of dose estimates is 0.3 (= 30%). A commercial kit for 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone is taken as an example.     

Quantitative analysis of original and powdered rocks and mineral inclusions by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Direct analysis of rocks by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is described. Both powdered standard rocks and the original rocks were analysed and the results agreed with each other in spite of the difference in the surface states. Microprobe analysis of biotite in granite JG1 was also done directly with a focused laser beam and the results obtained were very close to the solution values given by the conventional aqueous method using biotite separated from an original rock. For quantitative analysis, the measured signal intensity was normalized either by the ablated weight or the barium signal intensity. Forty-two major and minor elements (two of them being used as internal standards) in twelve standard rocks fromt the igneous rock series of the Geological Survey of Japan were determined successfully.     

A charge-transfer host system composed of a chiral 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol cluster and benzylviologen

Chiral charge-transfer (CT) complexes composed of a chiral 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol cluster as the electron donor and 1,1′-dibenzyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride as the electron acceptor serve as a host system for molecular recognition. CT complexes that include guest alcohols show different diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) depending on the included guest.