Linked crystallites in the conducting topmost layer of polymer bilayer films controlled by temperature: from micro- to nanocrystallites.

Temperature has great impact on the structure and size of the linked crystallites of the conducting topmost layer formed at the surface of a polycarbonate film via the reaction BEDT-TTF+IBr [BEDT-TTF=bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene]. We show that fine temperature control permits formation of a semiconducting topmost layer of alpha'-(BEDT-TTF)(2)(I(x)Br(1-x))(3) crystallites with either micro- or nanometre size, a result that opens a route to miniaturized conducting plastic materials.     

Nanocomposite materials from latex and cellulose whiskers

Composite materials were processed by casting a mixture of aqueous suspensions of latex and microfibrils. These microfibrils, or whiskers, are extracted from a sea animal and are monocrystals of cellulose, with an aspect ratio around 100 and an average diameter of 20 nm. It has been found that the mechanical properties (shear modulus) are increased by more than two orders of magnitude in the rubbery state of the polymeric matrix, when the whisker content was 6% (w/w). This very large effect is discussed on the basis of different types of mechanical models and it is concluded that these whiskers form a rigid network, probably linked by hydrogen bonds. The formation of this network is assumed to be governed by a percolation mechanism.     

Rapid Electrochemical Detection of Propranolol and Metoprolol in Pharmaceutical Preparations Using Stabilized Lipid Films

This work reports a technique for the rapid electrochemical detection of propranolol and metoprolol in pharmaceutical preparations using stabilized lipid films. Microporous filters composed of glass fibers (nominal pore sizes 0.7 and 1.0 μm) were used as supports for the formation and stabilization of these devices. The lipid film is formed on the filter by polymerization prior to its use. This stabilized after storage in air. Lipid films composed of phosphatidylcholine were used for the detection of propranolol and metoprolol in pharmaceutical preparations. The stabilized lipid membranes provided artificial ion gating events in the form of transient signals within about 60 and 34 s after exposure of the membranes to propranolol and metoprolol, respectively. The magnitude of the transient current signal was related to the concentration of propranolol and metoprolol in bulk solution in the micromolar range. The mechanism of signal generation was investigated by differential scanning calorimetric studies. These studies revealed that the adsorption of the drug is through the hydrophobic aryl terminal of the compound, whereas the hydrophilic groups were directed towards the electrolyte solution. This adsorption caused a rapid alteration of the electrochemical double layer of the lipid film (i.e., capacitance changes) that resulted in the transient ion current signal. The present technique was used for the rapid detection of propranolol and metoprolol in pharmaceutical preparations and can function for repetitive uses after storage in air. Future research is targeted to the determination of these chemicals in human biofluids such as urine of athletes.     

The evolution of morphology of ordered porous TiO2 films fabricated from sol-gel method assisted ZnO nanorod template

Ordered porous TiO₂ films, including TiO₂ nanotube arrays, are fabricated by a sol-gel dip-coating approach via ZnO nanorod templates obtained from aqueous solution approach. The results indicate that the morphologies of ordered porous TiO₂ films have been great affected by the sol-gel dip-coating cycle number. Open-ended TiO₂ nanotube arrays can be obtained in optimum dip-coating cycle numbers. The TiO₂ nanotubes with the inner diameter matching well with the diameters of ZnO nanorods, are well assembled and separate each other. When the cycle number is less than this optimum value, no intact porous TiO₂ film can be obtained. As the cycle number is larger than this optimum value, an ordered porous TiO₂ film with many throughout holes is formed. The evolutive mechanism of ordered porous TiO₂ films is proposed.     

LB膜诱导Ba(NO3)2晶体取向生长

In this work, Ba(NO₃)₂ crystals with single crystal face were induced by using the the method of bio-mimetic mineralization and double LB films of behenic acid (BA) as the template. The crystals were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The crystals were observed in regular square shape with uniform size about 5～8 μm by SEM, and they were found by XRD to grow along the (111) plane. From these experiments, we can conclude that the good selection of the (111) crystal face of Ba(NO₃)₂ is due to the electrostatic interactions , the match between this crystal face and the definite lattice structure of the LB films.     

MoO3、NiO、ZnO在小表面金红石上的分散行为

Dispersion of MoO3, NiO, ZnO on rutile TiO2 with low specific surface area was studied with Mercury Porosimeter, SEM, XPS and Ammonia Extraction method. The dispersion thresholds of MoO3, NiO, ZnO on three rutile TiO2 carriers were obtained with XPS, and com-pared with those on anatase TiO2 with high specific surf are area. Ammonia Extraction method was used to identify the surface oxide species interarting with support surface in different strength and it was found that the proportions of oxides that can not be extracted by ammonia extraction are different for MoO3, NiO and ZnO which are supported on rutile TiO2.     

Preparation of Polycrystalline Antimonic Acid Films by Electrophoretic Deposition

Cubic antimonic acid (Sb₂O₅·nH₂O) films were successfully prepared on stainless steel and Si(100) substrates by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) using two types of sols. The sols were prepared by reacting an H₂O₂ aqueous solution with Sb(O-i-C₃H₇)₃ or metallic Sb powder. The resulting films were found to consist of fine particles of cubic Sb₂O₅·nH₂O single crystals with uniform particle sizes of 30 nm and 150 nm. The weight of the Sb₂O₅·nH₂O deposit on the anode Si(100) substrate by EPD increased linearly with the current density in the range of 0–0.67 mA cm^–2, when the sol pH was over 7. The proton conductivity of the polycrystalline Sb₂O₅·nH₂O discs, formed from the two types of sols, was evaluated by an ac impedance method at room temperature under controlled levels of relative humidity.     

Supramolecular Assembly Formation in Monolayers of tert-Butyl Substituted Copper Phthalocyanine and Tetrabenzotriazaporphin

The effect is studied of the layer formation conditions on the molecular arrangement of copper tetra- tert-butyl phthalocyanine (CuPctBu₄) and copper tetra- tert-butyl tetrabenzotriazaporphin (CuThptBu₄) at the air–water interface. The decrease in initial surface concentration of these compounds is shown to affect the molecular orientation, as indicated by the increase in the area per molecule. The data are interpreted in terms of formation of CuPctBu₄ and CuThptBu₄ monolayers with a face-on molecular arrangement when the initial surface concentration is sufficiently small (N less than 1.6 × 10^–7 mole/m² for CuPctBu₄ and N less than 4 × 10^–7 mole/m² for CuThptBu₄) and changes in the molecular orientation to edge-on when the N values are higher. It is emphasized that the edge-on orientation on the water surface is not only a molecular but a collective property of the azaporphyrine supramolecular assembly.     

Control of optical properties of gel-derived oxide coating films containing fine metal particles

Control of the optical properties of gel-derived oxide films containing fine metal particles is described. The duration of the aging of Si(OC₂H₅)₄-derived sols and the amount of water for hydrolyzing Si(OC₂H₅)₄ were found to greatly affect the size and the shape of Au particles formed in the silica matrix, and accordingly the optical absorption of the Au/SiO₂ composite films. Employing dielectric media with high refractive indices like TiO₂ was shown to shift the absorption peak of Au particles to longer wavelengths. Pd/TiO₂ and Pt/TiO₂ composite films showed absorption in the visible region.     

Growth of ramification-like ZnO rods in the presence of polyaniline

To obtain new materials with synergetic or complementary behaviors, polyaniline composite filled with ZnO rods in ramification-like structure was prepared by a hydrothermal approach. Comparative experiments of ZnO preparation in the presence of some metal ions were also carried out. The results indicated that the morphology of ZnO was strongly affected by the preparation condition. The method to grow ZnO rods in the presence of polyaniline offers a simple approach to obtain polyaniline composite filled with linear ZnO structure. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy show that the strong interaction between ZnO and polyaniline possibly exists to cause the charge transfer.