Raman and photoluminescence analyses of the crystalline InAlAs layer grown on InP substrate

Photoluminescence and Raman measurements are used to characterize the In_xAl_1-xAs (0.48 < × <0.573)epilayers grown on InP substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. It is found that as In composition, x, deviates too much from 0.52, misfit dislocations may be introduced. These dislocations will dramatically reduce the radiative efficiency of the InAlAs epilayers. Raman spectra become broader and more asymmetry due to alloy potential fluctuations as the mismatch becomes large.     

Effect of metal-oxygen covalent bonding on the competition between Jahn-Teller distortion and charge disproportionation in the perovskites of high-spin d(4) metal ions LaMnO(3) and CaFeO(3)

The perovskites LaMnO(3) and CaFeO(3) consisting of high-spin d(4) transition metal ions undergo different types of distortions, i.e., a Jahn-Teller distortion in LaMnO(3) and a charge disproportionation in CaFeO(3). We investigated the electronic factor causing this difference on the basis of first principles spin-polarized electronic band structure calculations for their ideal cubic structures and also tight-binding electronic band structure calculations for their ideal cubic and distorted structures. Our study shows that a charge disproportionation is favored over a Jahn-Teller distortion in CaFeO(3) because the covalent character is strong in the Fe-O bond, while the opposite is true for LaMnO(3) because the covalent character is weak in the Mn-O bond. In spin-polarized electronic band structure calculations, the covalency of the M-O (M = Fe, Mn) bond is enhanced in the up-spin bands but is reduced in the down-spin bands. Our analysis shows that electron-electron repulsion causes the energy gap between the metal 3d and the oxygen 2p orbitals to become larger for the down-spin than for the up-spin-orbital interactions. Thus in the d-block e(g) bands of both LaMnO(3) and CaFeO(3) the metal 3d orbital contribution is larger in the down-spin than in the up-spin bands.     

Comparisons of porous and adsorption properties of carbons activated by steam and KOH

In this work, fir woods and pistachio shells were used as source materials to prepare porous carbons, which were activated by physical (steam) and chemical (KOH) methods. Pore properties of these activated carbons including the BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameter were first characterized by a t-plot method based on N(2) adsorption isotherms. Highly porous activated carbons with BET surface area up to 1009-1096 m(2)/g were obtained. The steam and KOH activation methods produced carbons with mesopore content in the range 9-15 and 33-49%, respectively. The adsorption equilibria and kinetics of tannic acid, methylene blue, 4-chlorophenol, and phenol from water on such carbons at 30 degrees C were then investigated to check their chemical characteristics. The Freundlich equation gave a better fit to all adsorption isotherms than the Langmuir equation. On the other hand, the intraparticle diffusion model could best follow all adsorption processes. In comparison with KOH-activated carbons, it was shown that the rate of external surface adsorption with steam-activated carbons was significantly higher but the rate of intraparticle diffusion was much lower.     

Selectivity in the Phase Transfer Catalytic Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene by Transition VIII Metals

The phase transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to p-aminophenol has been investigated for the catalysts Pt, Pd, Rh and Ru. The influence of factors such as surfactant concentration, sulfuric acid concentration, hydrogen pressure and temperature on the reaction was determined. It was found that the rate-determining step for the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene is the catalytic process by which the hydrogen atom is absorbed on the metal surface. A reaction model is suggested which accounts for the observed hydrogenation selectivity and explains how these factors affect product composition and yield. It is shown that Pt favors p-aminophenol production, while Pd favors aniline production.     

Comparison of CID versus ETD‐based MS/MS fragmentation for the analysis of doubly derivatized steroids

Electrospray ionization coupled with collision‐induced dissociation (CID) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is a commonly used technique to analyze the chemical composition of steroids. However, steroids are structurally similar compounds, making it difficult to interpret their product‐ion spectra. Electron transfer dissociation (ETD), a relatively new technique for protein and peptide fragmentation, has been shown to provide more detailed structural information. In this study, we compared the ability of CID with that of ETD to differentiate between eight 3,20‐dioxosteroids that had been derivatizated with a quaternary ammonium salt, Girard reagent P (GirP), at room temperature or after exposure to microwave irradiation to generate doubly charged ions. We found that the derivatization of steroid with GirP hydrazine occurred in less than 10 min when the reaction was carried out in the presence of microwave irradiation compared to 30 min when the reaction was carried out at room temperature. According to the MS/MS spectra, CID provided rich, structurally informative ions; however, the spectra were complex, thereby complicating the peak assignment. In contrast, ETD generated simpler spectra, making it easier to recognize individual peaks. Remarkably, both CID and ETD were allowed to differentiate of steroid isomers, 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) and deoxycorticosterone (DOC), but the signature ions obtained from CID were less intense than those generated by ETD, which generated much clearer spectra. These results indicate that ETD in conjunction with CID can provide more structural information for precise characterization of steroids. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Conductive carbon tape as a sample platform for microwave-based MALDI MS detection of proteins and phosphoproteins

In this study, we developed a novel microwave-assisted protein preparation and digestion method for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis and identification of proteins that involves using conductive carbon tape as a sample platform for sample preparation (reduction and alkylation) and digestion under microwave heating and as a plate for MALDI analysis. This method allows for the enzymatic digestion products of proteins to be directly analyzed by MALDI mass spectrometry and results in a marked reduction in sample loss. Our protocol requires only a small volume (1 μL) of reaction solvent, which increases the frequency of enzyme-to-protein contact, thereby resulting in more efficient digestion of sample than conventional in-solution digestion methods. To test this protocol, we used magnetic iron (II, III) oxide nanoparticles as concentrating probes to enrich phosphopeptides from a mixture of peptides in enzymatically digested protein samples. We found that the one-pot on-tape-based protein preparation and digestion under microwave heating combined with the on-tape-based enrichment method not only dramatically reduced the time required for phosphopeptides analysis but also allowed for the simultaneous identification of phosphoproteins. The advantages of our protocol include ease of use, high digestion efficiency, high specificity, and rapid (15 min) identification of proteins and enrichment of phosphopeptides in a mixture of enzymatically digested protein samples.     

Experimental and theoretical investigation on the relative stability of the PdS2- and pyrite-type structures of PdSe2

Under ambient condition PdSe2 has the PdS2-type structure. The crystal structure of PdSe2 under pressure (up to 30 GPa) was investigated at room temperature by X-ray diffraction in an energy-dispersive configuration using a diamond anvil cell with a mixture of water/ethanol/methanol as a pressure transmitting medium. A reversible structural transition from the PdS2-type to the pyrite-type structure occurs around 10 GPa, and the applied pressure reduces the spacing between adjacent 2/proportional to [PdSe2] layers of the PdS2-type structure to form the three-dimensional lattice of the pyrite-type structure. First principles and extended Hückel electronic band structure calculations were carried out to confirm the observed pressure-induced structural changes. We also examined why the isoelectronic analogues NiSe2 and PtSe2 adopt structures different from the PdS2-type structure on the basis of qualitative electronic structure considerations.     

Equilibrium sorption of heavy metals and phosphate from single- and binary-sorbate solutions on goethite

The amounts of Cu(II), Zn(II), and phosphate sorbed from single- and binary-sorbate systems on goethite (alpha-FeOOH) were measured. Experiments were carried out as a function of equilibrium pH (2-7), sorbate concentration (0.21-1.57 mM), and temperature (15-35 degrees C). The aqueous phase contained 0.1 M NaNO3 to maintain ionic strength constant. A convenient method was used to obtain sorption isotherms of single Cu(II), Zn(II), and phosphate at a fixed equilibrium pH, which could be well described by the Langmuir equation. Thermodynamic parameters for the sorption of single Cu(II) and phosphate including the free energies, isosteric enthalpies, and entropies were determined. In contrast to the single-sorbate systems, the sorption of metals was inhibited in the binary Cu(II)-Zn(II) system, whereas the sorption of both sorbates was enhanced in the binary Cu(II)-phosphate system under the conditions studied. The validity of the Langmuir competitive model for the prediction of the sorption isotherms in a binary Cu(II)-Zn(II) system was also discussed.     

Spin ice: magnetic excitations without monopole signatures using muon spin rotation

Theory predicts the low temperature magnetic excitations in spin ices consist of deconfined magnetic charges, or monopoles. A recent transverse-field (TF) muon spin rotation (μSR) experiment [S.?T. Bramwell et al., Nature (London) 461, 956 (2009)] reports results claiming to be consistent with the temperature and magnetic field dependence anticipated for monopole nucleation-the so-called second Wien effect. We demonstrate via a new series of μSR experiments in Dy(2)Ti(2)O(7) that such an effect is not observable in a TF μSR experiment. Rather, as found in many highly frustrated magnetic materials, we observe spin fluctuations which become temperature independent at low temperatures, behavior which dominates over any possible signature of thermally nucleated monopole excitations.     

Design and implementation of a bistable microcantilever actuator for magnetostatic latching relay

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and implementation of a microcantilever actuator with magnetostatic latching for performing low power bistable relay applications. This unique bistable feature consists of a low-stiffness torsion/cantilever beam system with circular-shaped support and a permanent magnet for holding the closed state with a permalloy soft magnetic circuit. The special circular support is designed to enhance the stiffness of the overhang beams. First, mechanical modeling of the leveraged torsion/cantilever beams was performed by Castigliano’s theorem so as to deduce the spring stiffness of system. Then the device has been prepared by a laminated photoresist sacrificial layer process (LPSLP). Finally, mechanical performance was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), combined with finite element simulation using ANSYS™ package and analysis model as well. Switching between two stable states of the microactuator was successfully validated with WYKO NT1100 optical profiling system.