Structural and electrical characterization of PZT on gold for micromachined piezoelectric membranes

Piezoelectric membranes have been fabricated that incorporate a gold bottom electrode with an adhesion layer of titanium–tungsten (10:90 wt. %). For solution-deposited acetic acid based lead zirconate titanate (HoAc-PZT) with a Zr:Ti ratio of 40:60, the film’s average piezoelectric coefficient, e₃₁, is -5.31 C/m², with a dielectric constant of 814 at 200 Hz, which is similar to values for platinum bottom electrodes. The PZT structure remains columnar on both types of bottom electrodes. Initial fabrication attempts resulted in cracking that initiated in the PZT layer of the structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was utilized to establish how processing affects diffusion throughout the composite membrane structure. Crack-free membranes were fabricated and tested. This paper discusses the performance properties and piezoelectric fatigue results for these membranes. PACS 77.84.-s; 77.84.Lf     

Silicon-29 diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) as a tool for studying aqueous silicates

The first use of silicon-29 diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) is reported, in a study of the speciation of aqueous silicates.     

The beta-fluorine effect. Electronic versus steric effects in radical deoxygenations of fluorine-containing pentofuranose nucleosides

Stereoselective pyramidalization of free radicals by a vicinal fluorine substituent, the beta-fluorine effect, was invoked to rationalize a 77:23 anti/syn ratio of 2-deuterio-1-fluorocyclopentanes obtained by radical reduction of trans-2-fluoro-1-bromocyclopentane with tributyltin deuteride (Dolbier, W. R., Jr.; Bartberger, M. D. J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 4984-4985). We have evaluated analogous reductions of the four possible stereoisomers of some adenine 2'(3')-fluoro-3'(2')-O-phenoxythiocarbonyl nucleoside derivatives. In all cases, the steric effect of adenine on the beta face directs deuterium transfer from the stannane to C2'(C3') on the alpha face of the furanose ring. However, the beta-fluorine effect enhances ratios of deuterium transfer anti to the vicinal fluorine substituent.     

Nucleic acid related compounds. 31. Smooth and efficient palladium-copper catalyzed coupling of terminal alkynes with 5-iodouracil nucleosides

Coupling of terminal alkynes with protected 5-iodouracil nucleosides in the presence of dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)palladium and copper(I) iodide in triethylamine gives the corresponding 5-(alkyn-1-yl)uracil nucleosides in 72–92% yields.     

Spherical coordinate representations of solvent composition for liquid chromatography method development using experimental design

One of the major techniques used for the method development of ternary and quaternary high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems has been to use mixture designs, often referred to as "Glajch's Triangle". This technique does not allow for the systematic and simultaneous optimization of other factors such as gradient time, pH and temperature that affect the quality of separations. An alternative approach is to use experimental designs. The condition, however, that the composition of all components of the mobile phase must total 100% presents a problem when trying to mathematically represent ranges of each mobile phase constituent of a ternary or quaternary system. A method is described here, based on spherical coordinate representations, that adheres to the constraints of the mobile phase composition and allows experimental designs, such as central composite and factorial designs, to be applied to the simultaneous optimization of the mobile phase composition. Other factors, in particular temperature and gradient time, can then be included in the design. As a result of applying these designs to the HPLC separation of phenols and corticosteroids, it was found necessary to include three-way interactions between experimental factors in the model. The significance of these interactions shows that they need to be considered in HPLC method development.     

Determination of the alkaline earths in glass

The alkaline-earth group was isolated, after removal of silica, by precipitation as sulfates from an alcoholic solution. Those sulfates were reduced and dissolved by treatment with hydriodic acid. The alkaline earths were separated from each other by ion-exchange chromatography. The results are in good agreement with the values reported by the National Bureau of Standards.     

Determination of the fluoride distribution in rabbit bone using instrumental neutron activation analysis

An instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) technique, based on the¹⁹F(n,)²⁰F reaction, has been development for the determination of fluoride in bone. The purpose was to study fluoride distribution in different kinds of bone samples using a rabbit model. The rationale for the study stems from the posible correlation between fluoride in bone and osteoporosis. The sodium concentration in the bone was used to correct the²⁰F peak area for the²³F(n,)²⁰F contribution. Two secondary standards, teflon tape and teflon coated dacron line, were used to quantify fluoride concentration. They proved to be stable and consistent with respect to their fluoride concentration. Bone specimens from 10 sites and two tooth samples were analyzed for fluoride. Fluoride concentration ranged from 305 ppm in the tibia long bone to 585 ppm in the humerus trochanter end and the magnitude of fluoride concentration levels is age depdentent. The detection limit of the fluoride is approximately 5 ppm using a 100 mg bone sample.