Investigation of the chemical state of ultrathin Hf-Al-O films during high temperature annealing

Al₂O₃ incorporated HfO₂ films grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) were investigated by high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HRXPS). The core level energy state of a 15 Å thick film showed a shift to higher binding energy, as the result of a silicate formation and Al₂O₃ incorporation. The incorporation of Al₂O₃ into the HfO₂ film had no effect on silicate formation at the interface between the film and Si, while the ionic bonding characteristics and hybridization effects were enhanced compared to a pure HfO₂ film. The dissociation of the film in an ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) is effectively suppressed compared to a pure HfO₂ film, indicating an enhanced thermal stability of Hf-Al-O. Any dissociated Al₂O₃ on the film surface was completely removed into the vacuum by vacuum annealing treatment over 850 °C, while HfO₂ contributed to Hf silicide formation on the film surface.     

Evidence for the short-period oscillations in spin-resolved photoemission of thin Cr(110) films

The spin-resolved electronic structure of thin Cr overlayers on top of the Fe(110) surface was investigated by means of spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The initial fast drop of photoelectron spin-polarization at the Fermi level, followed by weak oscillatory behavior with the period of about 2 ML, can give an evidence for the first time spectroscopic observation of the short period oscillations in (110)-oriented thin Cr films.     

Malyngamide X: The First (7R)‐Lyngbic Acid that Connects to a New Tripeptide Backbone from the Thai Sea Hare Bursatella leachii

Malyngamide X ( 1 ), the first (7R)‐lyngbic acid connected to a new tripeptide backbone, was isolated from the Thai sea hare Bursatella leachii. The gross structure of 1 was established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopic data. Combination of the NMR spectroscopic experiments with α‐methoxy‐α‐(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetic acid esters, 2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(9‐anthryl)ethanol chiral solvating agent, and molecular mechanics of 1 and the synthetic molecular fragments allowed us to determine the absolute stereochemistry of all six stereogenic centers without hydrolytic degradation of the compound. Compound 1 displayed moderate cytotoxic, antitubercular, and antimalarial properties.     

Enantioseparation of Dencichine and D-Isomer on L-Cysteine Derivative Phase by Ligand-exchange Chromatography

Dencichine (β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid, L-ODAP), a nonprotein amino acid, is a haemostatic agent present in important Chinese medicinal herbs such as Panax notoginseng, as well as other Panax species1. It was first isolated from the seeds …     

Band bending at the Si(1 1 1)–SiO2 interface induced by low-energy ion bombardment

Experiments employing photoreflectance spectroscopy have uncovered band bending due to electrically active defects at the Si(1 1 1)–SiO₂ interface after sub-keV Ar⁺ ion bombardment. The band bending of about 0.5 eV resembles that for Si(1 0 0)–SiO₂, and both interfaces exhibit two kinetic regimes for the evolution of band bending upon annealing due to defects healing. The healing takes place about an order of magnitude more quickly at the (1 1 1) interface, however, probably because of less fully saturated bonding and higher compressive stress.     

Growth process of TiC clusters from Ti nanoparticles with evaporated carbon layer

Titanium carbide formation by the solid–solid reaction on the surface of Ti nanoparticles was studied in situ using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope with a heating stage. The cross-sectional image of the Ti surface was clearly observed. Vacuum-deposited carbon covered the whole the surface of Ti nanoparticles in spite of the partly evaporation on the nanoparticle surface. The diffusion of the carbon atoms inside the Ti nanoparticles depended on the size of the nanoparticles. When the Ti nanoparticle diameter was less than 30 nm, carbon atoms diffused into the Ti nanoparticle and formed TiC. The superstructure of the Ti nanoparticles was observed, which revealed the growth process of TiC to be the diffusion of carbon atoms. For Ti nanoparticles with diameter larger than 30 nm it was observed that diffusion of Ti atoms into the carbon layer was dominant, which resulted in formation of TiC in the carbon layer at the surface of Ti nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and chiroptical properties of optically active poly(ethynylcarbazole) derivatives: Substituent effect on the helix formation

Novel chiral acetylene monomers containing carbazole, 2‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐2‐methylbutoxycarbonyl]carbazole ( 1 ), 3‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐2‐methylbutoxycarbonyl]carbazole ( 2 ), 2‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐2‐methylbutyl]carbazole ( 3 ), and 2‐ethynyl‐9‐[(S)‐4‐methylhexyl]carbazole ( 4 ) were synthesized and polymerized with [(nbd)RhCl]₂? Et₃N. The corresponding polyacetylenes with number‐average molecular weights ranging from 68,700 to 310,000 were obtained in good yields. Poly( 1 ) exhibited a large specific rotation and an intense Cotton effect in toluene, indicating that it formed a helix with predominantly one‐handed screw sense, while the other three polymers showed no evidence for taking a helical structure. Poly( 1 ) largely decreased the CD intensity upon heating from ?10 to 60 °C. Poly( 1 ) showed a Cotton effect in film state in a manner similar to solution state. No chiral amplification was observed in the copolymerization of 1 with achiral 2‐ethynyl‐9‐tert‐butoxycarbonylcarbazole ( 5 ). © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4450–4458, 2007     

Rigorous Generalization of Young's Law for Heterogeneous and Rough Substrates

We consider a SOS type model of interfaces on a substrate which is both heterogeneous and rough. We first show that, for appropriate values of the parameters, the differential wall tension that governs wetting on such a substrate satisfies a generalized law which combines both Cassie and Wenzel laws. Then in the case of an homogeneous substrate, we show that this differential wall tension satisfies either the Wenzel's law or the Cassie's law, according to the values of the parameters.     

Behavior of zirconium in the ZrOW(100) system at high temperature, studied by ISS, AES and work-function measurements

The behavior of zirconium atoms at the W(100) surface associated with oxygen adsorption at different sample temperatures has been studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS), and the relative change of the work function (Δф) measured by the onset of the secondary electron energy distribution. The results have revealed: (i) adsorption of zirconium onto the W(100) surface followed by the elevation of the sample temperature up to 1710 K in an oxygen partial pressure of 2.7 × 10⁻⁴ induces complete diffusion of zirconium atoms into the W(100) substrate; (ii) further exposure of oxygen induces co-existence of oxygen and tungsten on the surface at 1710 K, resulting in a work function of 4.37 eV; (iii) keeping the sample temperature at 1710 K, simple evacuation of the system has resulted in surface segregation of zirconium atoms to the surface to form a zirconium atomic layer on the top-most surface, reducing the work function to 2.7 eV. The results have revealed that this specific behavior of zirconium atoms at high temperature assures, with very good reproducibility, the highly stable performance and long service life of Zr---O/W(100)-emitters in practical use, even in a low vacuum of 10⁻⁶ Pa.