Conductance asymmetry of a slot gate Si‐MOSFET in a strong parallel magnetic field

We report measurements on a Si‐MOSFET sample with a slot in the upper gate, allowing for different electron densities n_1,2 across the slot. The dynamic longitudinal resistance was measured by the standard lock‐in technique, while maintaining a large DC current through the source‐drain channel. We find that the conductance of the sample in a strong parallel magnetic field is asymmetric with respect to the DC current direction. This asymmetry increases with magnetic field. The results are interpreted in terms of electron spin accumulation or depletion near the slot.     

Self‐doping PPV oligomers – electrochemistry and structure of the self‐doped systems

A novel class of self‐doping conjugated oligomers, E,E‐2‐(sulfoalkoxy)‐5‐alkoxy‐1,4‐bis[2‐(2,4,6‐trimethoxyphenyl) ethenyl]benzenes, is presented. The synthesis and spectroscopic characterisation of five such oligomers are described, and an electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammetry is performed to determine the anodic peak potentials. A structural study is performed on six self‐doping oligomers in which the structures and energies of the possible mono‐molecular forms of the electrically conducting doped material are described and evaluated using Hirshfeld charges and the Quantum Theory of Atoms In Molecules. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the structure of 3‐acetylamino‐5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole and on the fully degenerate rearrangements (FDR) of its anion: a stimulating comparison between the results of ‘in‐silicon chemistry’ and ‘laboratory chemistry’

An accurate crystal structure determination has provided evidence for a planar conformation for 3‐acetylamino‐5‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole ( 5 ), in agreement with quantum‐mechanical calculations in the gas phase. In the crystal, a series of strong intermolecular N7H7^….O9 hydrogen bonds link the amido groups of different molecules, causing the formation of infinite parallel ordered chains. The effect of the DMSO solvent on the energy and charge distribution of compound 5 and on its relevant 5 ^? anion, involved in a fully degenerate rearrangement (FDR), has been deepened by quantum‐mechanical DFT calculations. The calculated energy barrier for the FDR increases in going from in vacuo to DMSO, in agreement with previsions based on the Hughes and Ingold rules concerning the nucleophilic substitution of an anionic reagent (the deprotonated amido group in the side chain) on a neutral substrate (the 1,2,4‐oxadiazole ring). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nondestructive elemental depth profiling of Japanese lacquerware ‘Tamamushi‐nuri’ by confocal 3D‐XRF analysis in comparison with micro GE‐XRF

We have applied recently two XRF (micro x‐ray fluorescence) methods [micro‐Grazing Exit XRF (GE‐XRF) and confocal 3D‐XRF] to Japanese lacquerware ‘Tamamushi‐nuri.’ A laboratory grazing‐exit XRF (GE‐XRF) instrument was developed in combination with a micro‐XRF setup. A micro x‐ray beam was produced by a single capillary and a pinhole aperture. Elemental x‐ray images (2D images) obtained at different analyzing depths by micro GE‐XRF have been reported. However, it was difficult to directly obtain depth‐selective x‐ray spectra and 2D images. A 3D XRF instrument using two independent polycapillary x‐ray lenses and two x‐ray sources (Cr and Mo targets) was also applied to the same sample. 2D XRF images of a Japanese lacquerware showed specific distributions of elements at the different depths, indicating that ‘Tamamushi‐nuri’ lacquerware has a layered structure. The merits and disadvantages of both the micro GE‐XRF and confocal micro XRF methods are discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vivo study on the protection of indole‐3‐carbinol (I3C) against the mouse acute alcoholic liver injury by micro‐Raman spectroscopy

Micro‐Raman spectroscopy (MRS) was utilized for the first time to evaluate the effect of indole‐3‐carbinol (I3C) on acute alcoholic liver injury in vivo. In situ Raman analysis of tissue sections provided distinct spectra that can be used to distinguish alcoholic liver injury as well as ethanol‐induced liver fibrosis from the normal state. Sixteen mice with liver diseases including acute liver injury and chronic liver fibrosis, and eight mice with normal liver tissues, and eight remedial mice were studied employing the Raman spectroscopic technique in conjunction with biomedical assays. The biochemical changes in mouse liver tissue when liver injury/fibrosis occurs such as the loss of reduced glutathione (GSH), and the increase of collagen (α‐helix protein) were observed by MRS. The intensity ratio of two Raman peaks (I₁₄₅₀/I₆₆₆) and in combination with statistical analysis of the entire Raman spectrum was found capable of classifying liver tissues with different pathological features. Raman spectroscopy therefore is an important candidate for a nondestructive in vivo screening of the effect of drug treatment on liver disease, which potentially decreases the time‐consuming clinical trials. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vibrational properties of graphene and graphene layers

The phonon dispersions of graphene and graphene layers are theoretically investigated within fifth‐nearest‐neighbor force‐constant approach. Based on their symmetry groups, the number of Raman‐ and infrared‐active modes at the Γ point is given. Interatomic force constants are recalculated by fitting them to experimental phonon energy dispersion curves. Wavenumbers of optically active modes are presented as a function of number of layers (n). Our calculated results reproduce well the experimental data of G peak for graphene (1587 cm⁻¹) and graphite (1581.6 cm⁻¹) and clearly give the relation that ω_G = 1581.6 + 11/(1 + n^1.6). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering study of monolayers formed from mixtures of 4–mercaptobenzoic acid and various aromatic mercapto‐derivative bases

Monolayers formed from aromatic compounds have many potential applications, for example in construction of bioelectronic elements having high efficiency of electron transfer. In this paper, the composition of monolayers formed on silver surfaces from mixtures of 4‐mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) and four model (stable and easily available) aromatic thiols with strong base properties: 4,6‐diamino‐2‐mercaptopyrimidine (APY), 1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiol (HTR), 4‐methyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiol (MTR) and 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5‐thiol (ATR), were determined from surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements. Our investigations showed that among studied aromatic bases, APY is the most promising candidate for the formation of mixed monolayers with MBA. In the whole pH range studied (2–12.5), mixed MBA + APY monolayers with similar surface concentration of both components are formed during the adsorption from the 0.5 mM MBA + 0.5 mM APY aqueous solution. Desorption of MBA and APY from the mixed monolayer is, however, significantly different. During immersion in water, surface concentration of APY decreases significantly faster than MBA (a significant part of the adsorbed MBA molecules is present on the silver surface even after 2 h of soaking in water). Presence of chlorides, bovine serum albumin or laccase in the surrounding solution does not observably influence the structure of MBA + APY monolayers. The properties of monolayers formed from MBA and substituted triazoles were found to be significantly different than those of MBA + APY monolayers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Femtosecond laser near field ablation

The high field strength of femtosecond laser pulses leads to nonlinear effects during the interaction with condensed matter. One such effect is the ablation process, which can be initiated below the threshold of common thermal ablation if the excitation pulses are sufficiently short. This effect leads to structure formation, which is anisotropic because of the polarization properties of the near field and can result in pattern sizes below the resolution limit of light. These effects are explored by temporally resolved scattering methods and by post‐mortem analysis to show the non‐thermal and anisotropic nature of this process. The near‐field distribution of plasmon modes can be tailored to a large extent in order to obtain control of the pattern formation.     

The Initial Reactions of H3PO4 and NaH2PO4Supported on Silica: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study

利用XRD、TG、DRIFTS、31P MAS NMR和密度泛函理论研究了浸渍法制备的硅胶负载型磷酸和磷酸二氢钠催化剂,阐明了催化剂制备过程中生成的初始缩合产物和其反应机理. 光谱试验结果显示,在二氧化硅负载的磷酸上,除了聚磷酸外,还有硅磷酸盐的存在;在二氧化硅负载的磷酸二氢钠上,仅发现聚磷酸钠存在. 密度泛函模拟结果也证明,磷酸与二氧化硅表面硅羟基之间的反应在缩合反应的初始阶段比其自身的二聚反应更为有利. 但是在硅胶负载的磷酸二氢钠上,磷酸二氢钠的二聚和三聚是缩合反应初始阶段的主要反应.     

Preparation of thin Si:H films in an inductively coupled plasma reactor and analysis of their surface roughness

An important concern in the deposition of Si:H films is to obtain smooth surfaces. Herein, we deposit the thin Si:H films using Ar-diluted SiH₄ as feedstock gas in an inductively coupled plasma reactor. And we carry a real-time monitor on the deposition process by using optical emission spectrum technology in the vicinity of substrate and diagnose the Ar plasma radial distribution by Langmuir probe. Surface detecting by AFM and surface profilometry in large scale shows that the thin Si:H films have small surface roughness. Distributions of both the ion density and the electron temperature are homogeneous at h = 0.5 cm. Based on these experimental results, it can be proposed inductively coupled plasma reactor is fit to deposit the thin film in large scale. Also, Ar can affect the reaction process and improve the thin Si:H films characteristics.