Increased stability and size of a bubble on a superhydrophobic surface

Computational and theoretical models of millimeter-sized bubbles placed on upright hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces are compared with experimental data here. Although the experimental data for a hydrophobic surface corroborated the computational and theoretical data, the case of a superhydrophobic surface showed the bubbles to be able to contain significantly larger volumes than predicted. This is attributed to the greater ability of the bubble contact line to advance compared with its tendency to detach from the surface because of buoyancy. We surmise that a static model therefore describes only an unstable equilibrium for these bubbles, which unless heavily isolated from external influences are more likely to assume a larger stable size.     

Crystal structures and vibrational spectra of triphenylphosphonium hexahalogenodigallates(II), (Ph3PH)2Ga2X6 (X=Cl,Br, or I)

The crystal structures of the gallium(II) complexes (Ph₃PH)₂Ga₂X₆ (X=Cl, Br, I) have been determined. The anions are Ga-Ga bonded species, with staggered ethane conformations; the length of the Ga-Ga bond increases only slightly along the series I>Br>Cl, although there are significant changes in the Ga-Ga stretching force constant in the order Cl>Br>I. The vibrational spectra and derived force constants are discussed, as is the splitting of thev(P-H) [andv(P-D)] mode of the cation which is related to disorder in the structure of the neighboring Ga₂X₆ ^2– anions.     

The direct electrochemical synthesis and crystal structure of salts of [M4(SC6H5)10]2− anions (M = Zn,Cd)

The salts [(C₂H₅)₃NH]₂[M₄(SC₆H₅)₁₀] (M = Zn, Cd) can be prepared by the electrochemical oxidation of the metal in an acetonitrile solution of triethylamine and benzenethiol. An X-ray crystal structure determination shows that the anion consists of a tetrahedron of metal atoms, each carrying a terminal -SC₆H₅ ligand, and connected to the three other metal atoms by bridging > SC₆H₅ groups. The results are compared with those for similar compounds reported in the literature.     

Photoluminescence of chromium doped and chromium diffused GaAs

Photoluminescence (PL) measurements on the 0.84 eV Cr-related PL line have been made on both Cr diffused and Cr doped GaAs. In the former case, no luminescence is observed below a diffusion temperature of 800°C. The form of the PL spectrum is found to be the same, independent of whether the majority donor species is group IV(Si) or group VI(Te). PL profiling experiments are used to show that the PL intensity is proportional to the concentration of chromium. Although it is possible that a group VI donor is involved, the insensitivity of the spectrum to different donor species and its linear dependence on chromium concentration suggest that the luminescent centre is a [Cr_Ga-V_As] complex.Measurements on growth doped material are typified by the low intensity near the seed and the scatter in PL intensity in samples where the measured [Cr] is nearly constant. By comparison with the results on the diffused material, the anomalously low PL intensity near the seed end is deduced to be indicative of the high crystal stoichiometry in this region.     

Spot focus size effect in spectroscopic ellipsometry of thin films

A focused as opposed to collimated light beam is typically used as probe in order to achieve a smaller as well as more intense light interrogation area in spectroscopic ellipsometry of thin films. In this work, we performed geometric ray analysis at the illumination and recording ends of such a system. The numerical results revealed substantial changes in (i) average optical path length and (ii) optical path length differences, which varied according to wavelength despite the film thickness remaining uniform. These results were able to consistently explain the anomalies found when different focus probe beam sizes were used in experimental spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements.     

Dynamical force and imaging characterization of superhydrophobic surfaces

We devised a dangling cantilever optical lever setup with imaging that permits dynamical studies of superhydrophobic surfaces without the effects of gravitational acceleration for better insight into the mechanics. The setup enabled us to ascertain liquid loss and ascribe it to the interaction of liquid that just touched the superhydrophobic surface as it translated at various constant lateral speeds. At lower speeds (20-60 μm/s), the interactions were characterized by a strong initial liquid pin (at up to 0.6 nN force) and depin followed by a series of smaller force pin and depins before sufficient liquid loss led to total liquid detachment from the surface. At higher translation speeds (80-100 μm/s), the interactions were characterized by liquid pinning and depinning processes at a sustained force (around 0.7 nN) in which liquid loss was low enough to engender a much later liquid detachment (beyond 100 s). A linear reduction of the receding contact angle with time, but not with the advancing contact angle, was found up to the point of first liquid depinning. This suggested a stronger role played by the receding contact line in establishing liquid adherence to the superhydrophobic surface. The detachment process from the surface was also characterized by a liquid bridge driven to rupture by way of liquid being conveyed away from the bridge.     

EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF EXPECTED RETURNS FROM RESEARCH ON STOCK STRUCTURE FOR DETERMINATION OF TOTAL ALLOWABLE CATCH

An approach to incorporating new information using Bayes' theorem is applied to obtain estimates of expected returns from research on stock structure for determination of total allowable catch (TAC). Expected returns are measured relative to quantitative performance criteria that are inferred from fishery management objectives. Principles of the approach are outlined and a detailed case study of Tasmanian orange roughy is reported.