Effect of TaNx on electrical and optical properties of annealed TaNx/Ag/TaNx films

As‐deposited Ag(10 nm)/glass films exhibited agglomerated nanocrystals with seemingly thick boundaries. Introduction of a TaN_x layer below the Ag films resulted in dense and smooth structures, with a resistance at least three times lower than that of Ag/glass. For TaN_x(10 nm)/Ag(10 nm)/TaN_x(10 nm)/glass multilayer films, Auger electron spectroscopy results indicate that TaN_x acts as an effective barrier restraining the diffusion of Ag. After annealing (up to 573 K), no outward diffusion of Ag through either TaN_x layer was seen. However, partial oxidation of the outermost TaN_x layer to form Ta₂O₅ was observed. The films showed promising optical properties with 73% transmittance in the visible region and ~15% average transmittance in the near‐infrared region. The optical data obtained here was in good agreement with simulated predictions. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Characterization of Optical Properties in Water-in-Oil Emulsion

There have been few studies on the factors that determine the overall appearance of emulsions. Optical properties are quite important in determining the perceived quality of emulsion-based products. The overall appearance of an emulsion is determined by the way that it interacts with electromagnetic radiation in the visible region of the spectrum, for example, reflection, transmission, adsorption, and scattering. These interactions are principally determined by the characteristics of emulsion droplets (size, concentration, and refractive index). The present study aims at characterizing the optical properties and rheological behaviors of water-in-oil emulsions, especially macroemulsions. There is a decrease in the absorbance spectra as increasing glycerin ratio in aqueous phase because the difference of refractive index between oil phase and aqueous phase decreased, which improved the transparency of water-in-oil emulsion. The absorbance of linear and branched surfactant emulsions were smaller than that of alkyl modified branched surfactant emulsion. Moreover the transparency of emulsions prepared with linear and branched surfactants was much clearer than that of alkyl modified branched surfactant emulsion. The absorbance spectra also showed that low polar oil attributed to the more transparent emulsion, compared with high polar or nonpolar oil. However, these kinds of oils were not helpful to prepare transparent emulsion because the appearance of these emulsions was translucent or opaque, even if polyols in aqueous phase was 30 wt%.     

Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Carbon‐Coated Nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present work, microstructure and superparamagnetic properties of two types of carbon‐coated magnetic Ni and Fe nanoparticles [Ni(C) and Fe(C)] are reviewed. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (SAED), and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses have been used to reveal the distinct structural morphologies of Ni and Fe nanoparticles. Moreover, novel carbon‐coated Ni nanoparticle assemblies offer us great opportunities for studying the mechanism of superparamagnetism in particle assemblies. Magnetization measurements [M(T) and M(H) curves] for assemblies of Ni nanoparticles indicate that modified superparamagnetic properties at T > T _B, have been found in the assemblies of Ni(C) particles. The blocking temperature, T _B, is determined to be near 115K under a certain applied field. Above T _B, the magnetization M(H, T) can be described by the classical Langevin function L using the relation, M/M _s (T = 0) = coth (μH/kT) ? kT/μH. It is suggested that these assemblies of carbon‐coated Ni nanoparticles have typical single‐domain, field‐dependent superparamagnetic relaxation properties. Finally, Mössbauer spectra and hyperfine magnetic fields at room temperature for the assemblies of Fe(C) nanoparticles confirm their distinct nanophases that were detected by structural analysis. Modified superparamagnetic relaxation is observed in the assemblies of Fe(C) nanoparticles, which is attributed to the nanocrystalline nature of the carbon‐coated nanoparticles.     

Impact of Various Parameters Over the Stability of Water-in-Vegetable Oil Emulsion

Theory regarding emulsification, its coalescence and impact of emulsifier over its stability has been updated. For the verification of the proposed theory, water-in-oil emulsion was prepared by mixing water and soybean oil in the presence and absence of emulsifier, monoglyceride. The effect of different parameters like emulsification time, contents of water, and concentration of emulsifier has been investigated on the emulsification and coalescence process of the emulsion. It was noted that the emulsion quality was highest if the mixture was homogenized for about 15 minutes and the water contents were 40% v/v. The addition of monoglyceride up to 0.5% w/v gave the most stable emulsion having higher quality than other composition. The results obtained were compared with the proposed theory and found to have good compositions.      

Determination of Drop Sizes in Annular Gas/Liquid Flows in Vertical and Horizontal Pipes

Measurement of drop sizes play vital role in applications dealing with gas/liquid flow mixtures. In the present work, drop sizes in vertical and horizontal pipe flows were determined using Malvern 2600HSD system that applies laser diffraction method. From the analysis of the experimental data obtained at two different pipe orientations, two separate expressions were developed to determine Sauter mean diameter, d ₃₂. Except for the 20 m/s superficial gas velocity in vertical flow case, a good agreement was found between the developed expressions and the experimental data.     

Optical and Electronic Properties of Different Kinds of Water‐Soluble Porphyrin Films

Water‐soluble porphyrin‐porphyrin and porphyrin‐CdSe nanoparticle monolayer films were self‐assembled on different substrates. The influence of substrates, types of films, and heat treatment temperature on fluorescence of different kinds of porphyrin films was investigated. The SEM images showed the formation of monolayer films on porous alumina foil. The films assembled on porous alumina foil possessed higher fluorescence intensity and thermal stability. The result of conductance measurement indicated that the interaction of trimethylamidophenylporphyrin iodide (TAPPI) molecules with hydroxyl groups on porous alumina foil was weakened after CdSe nanoparticles assembled with TAPPI.     

Swelling of Water/Nonionic Surfactant Lamellar Liquid Crystals: A Model

A model is presented to provide quantitative measures to estimate the trends of the change in the penetration of the added component into the polar part of the amphiphile layer in lamellar liquid crystals of water and ethoxylated surfactants with added water (or polar solvents). The total thickness of the bi‐layer is treated as composed of an aqueous layer, of a layer of the polar groups from the surfactant and of the hydrocarbon chains of the latter. A fraction α of the added water is assumed penetrating the polar group layer leading to its expansion. The evaluation is built on the fact that experimental determinations of the interlayer spacing in the overwhelming majority of cases show a first order linear dependence on the ratio of added water. In the model this linearity is obtained by variation of the degree of penetration of water. The model indicated a reduction in the degree of penetration with added water, which is a rational trend. The model demonstrates the earlier interpretation of a structure, whose interlayer spacing is invariant with water contents as nonswelling; for example, in which all added water penetrates the amhiphile layer, is not appropriate. The model demonstrates the constancy of the interlayer spacing to be a consequence of a balance between the expansion of the amphiphile layer and the increase of a “free water” layer.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of （E）-2-phenyl-6,7dihydrobenzofuran-4（5H）-one O-cyanomethyl Oxime

A pair of E/Z-isomers of 2-phenyl-6,7-dihydrobenzofuran-4（5H）-one O-cyanomethyl oxime,C16H14N2O2,as potential drugs for treating peptic ulcer and other acid-related diseases have been synthesized and characterized by IR,MS and NMR spectra.Meanwhile,the crystal of IIIa was obtained and determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction.Crystal data： monoclinic system,space group P21 /c,a = 8.423（8）,b = 19.596（16）,c = 8.770（8）,β = 107.750（12）°,V = 1379（2）3,Z = 4,F（000） = 560,Dc = 1.283 g/cm3,μ = 0.086 mm 1,R = 0.0681 and wR = 0.2029 for 14472 independent reflections（Rint = 0.0782） and 2428 observed ones（I 2σ（I））.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Antiproliferative Activity of 2,2-Dimethyl-4-oxochroman-3-ylmorpholine-4-carbodithioate

The crystal structure of the new title compound 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxochroman-3-ylmorpholine-4-carbodithioate(C16H19NO3S2,Mr = 337.44) has been prepared and determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.The crystal is of triclinic,space group P1 with a = 9.5518(7),b = 9.7172(7),c = 11.0220(8),α = 67.08(1),β = 74.66(1),= 61.31(1)°,V = 822.72(10)3,Z = 2,Dc = 1.362 g/cm3,F(000) = 356,μ = 0.092 mm-1,MoKa radiation(λ = 0.71073),R = 0.0515 and wR = 0.1389 for 2623 observed reflections with I > 2(I).X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the chroman ring adopts a half-chair conformation while the morpholine ring shows a chair conformation.Intramolecular and intermolecular C-H···S and C-H···O hydrogen bonds together with π-π interations are found in the structure.The result of MTT assay shows the title compound displays good antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines.     

Liquid crystal parameters through image analysis

A technique which combines image analysis and polarising optical microscope (POM) is a useful tool for the physical investigation of discotic liquid crystals, such as hexabutoxytriphenylene and hexahexyloxytriphenylene. This investigation includes the phase transitions, optical properties and order parameter as a function of temperature. Textures of discotic liquid crystals are captured as a function of temperature using POM. These microscopic textures are analysed using MATLAB software to compute statistical parameters, Legendre moments, optical parameters and order parameters of discotic liquid crystal samples. Compared with other techniques in the literature, the proposed methodology is a reliable and very simple technique for the physical investigation of liquid crystals.