Nioboxidfluoride mit Blockstrukturen — Elektronenmikroskopische Durchstrahlungsaufnahmen und ihre Simulation

Niobiumoxidefluorides Nb₅₉O₁₄₇F, Nb₃₁O₇₇F, Nb₆₅O₁₆₁F₃ and Nb₃₄O₈₄F₂ were prepared by reaction of Nb₂O₅ and Nb₃O₇F at 1 270°C. These niobiumoxidefluorides have blockstructures which were examined by high resolution electron microscopy. The observed images of the crystal structures were compared with computer simulated images.

     

Structure‐Dependent Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Fullerodendrimers with Light‐Harvesting Oligophenylenevinylene Terminals

Oligophenylenevinylene (OPV)‐terminated phenylenevinylene dendrons G1 – G4 with one, two, four, and eight “side‐arms”, respectively, were prepared and attached to C₆₀ by a 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from dendritic aldehydes and N‐methylglycine. The relative electronic absorption of the OPV moiety increases progressively along the fullerodendrimer family C₆₀G1 – C₆₀G4 , reaching a 99:1 ratio for C₆₀G4 (antenna effect). UV/Vis and near‐IR luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy was used to elucidate photoinduced energy and electron transfer in C₆₀G1 – C₆₀G4 as a function of OPV moiety size and solvent polarity (toluene, dichloromethane, benzonitrile), taking into account the fact that the free‐energy change for electron transfer is the same along the series owing to the invariability of the donor–acceptor couple. Regardless of solvent, all the fullerodendrimers exhibit ultrafast OPV→C₆₀ singlet energy transfer. In CH₂Cl₂, the OPV→C₆₀ electron transfer from the lowest fullerene singlet level (¹C₆₀*) is slightly exergonic (ΔG_CS≈0.07 eV), but is observed, to an increasing extent, only in the largest systems C₆₀G2 – C₆₀G4 with lower activation barriers for electron transfer. This effect has been related to a decrease of the reorganization energy upon enlargement of the molecular architecture. Structural factors are also at the origin of an unprecedented OPV→C₆₀ electron transfer observed for C₆₀G3 and C₆₀G4 in apolar toluene, whereas in benzonitrile, electron transfer occurs in all cases. Monitoring of the lowest fullerene triplet state by sensitized singlet oxygen luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy shows that this level is populated through intersystem crossing and is not involved in photoinduced electron transfer.     

Direct Electrochemistry of Multi‐Copper Oxidases at Carbon Nanotubes Noncovalently Functionalized with Cellulose Derivatives

This study describes the direct electron transfer of multi‐copper oxidases, i.e., laccase (from Trametes versicolor) and bilirubin oxidase (BOD, from Myrothecium verrucaria) at multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) noncovalently functionalized with biopolymers of cellulose derivatives, i.e., hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), methyl cellulose (MC), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The functionalization of the MWNTs with the cellulose derivatives is found to substantially solubilize the MWNTs into aqueous media and to avoid their aggregation on electrode surface. Under anaerobic conditions, the redox properties of laccase and BOD are difficult to be defined with cyclic voltammetry at either laccase/MWNT‐modified or BOD/MWNT‐modified electrodes. The direct electron transfer properties of laccase and BOD are thus studied in terms of the bioelectrocatalytic activities of the laccase/MWNT‐modified and BOD/MWNT‐modified electrodes toward the reduction of oxygen and found to be facilitated at the functionalized MWNTs. The possible application of the laccase‐catalyzed O₂ reduction at the laccase/MWNT‐modified electrode is illustrated by constructing a CNT‐based ascorbate/O₂ biofuel cell with the MWNT‐modified electrode as the anode for the oxidation of ascorbate biofuel.     

Small-angle x-ray scattering studies on epoxidized butadiene-styrene block copolymers

Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations for epoxidized butadiene-styrene (BS) block copolymers were performed. For unepoxidized copolymers, the SAXS curve exhibits a maximum which indicates that the copolymer has heterogeneity domain morphology. Using the standard theory for a two-phase system, mean distances between domains, the correlation length l _p , and the thickness of the phase boundary were calculated from the SAXS data. It was found that the epoxidation of BS copolymers decreases the ability of the copolymer to separate the individual components. As the content of the epoxide groups increases, the dimensions of the domains decrease until they disappear, the boundary between domains and the matrix becomes less and less definite, and the copolymer composes a homogeneous system. The disappearance of the two-phase structure of the BS copolymers indicates an increase in the compatibility of polystyrene and epoxidized polybutadiene. According to the method of Van Krevelen, the solubility parameters of polystyrene and epoxypolybutadiene were calculated. Small differences between these parameters support the conclusions drawn from the SAXS investigations     

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-oligophenyl)benzenes: Amorphous Electron-Transport Materials with High-Glass-Transition Temperature and High Electron Mobility

Perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quaterphenyl)benzene (PF-13Y) and perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-quinquephenyl)benzene (PF-16Y) have been synthesized and characterized. They showed higher glass transition temperatures compared with perfluoro-1,3,5-tris(p-terphenyl)benzene (PF-10Y). Organic light-emitting diodes were fabricated using these materials as the electron-transport layers. PF-13Y and -16Y are better electron transporters than PF-10Y. The electron mobilities of PF-10Y and Alq₃ were measured by the time-of-flight technique. PF-10Y showed higher electron mobilities (10⁻⁴ cm²/V s) and weaker electric field dependence compared with Alq₃.     

Fractionation and purification of antioxidant peptides from Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) protein hydrolysates prepared using papain and alcalase 2.4L

Protein hydrolysates have the potential to be natural and safer sources of bioactive peptides. In this study, two proteases were used to hydrolyze Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) protein, and the hydrolysates were then purified to yield antioxidant peptides. The degree of hydrolysis of 23.56 % and 18.14 % was obtained using papain and alcalase 2.4L, respectivly, and hydrolysates had 96.80 % and 87.24 % total amino acid content, respectivly. The papain hydrolysate (PH) and alcalase 2.4L hydrolysate (AH) showed good antioxidant activity against DPPH^? (IC₅₀ of 3.64 and 3.15 mg/mL) and ABTS^?+ (IC₅₀ of 1.92 and 1.58 mg/mL), respectively. The low-molecular-weight (<1000 Da) fraction of both hydrolysates demonstrated the highest antiradical activity (IC₅₀ of 2.59 and 2.31 mg/mL, DPPH) and (IC₅₀ of 1.54 and 1.36 mg/mL, ABTS), respectively. Nine peptides were separated from both hydrolysates using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The IC₅₀ for ABTS^?+ scavenging activity of peptide P5 with valine, glycine and asparagine (MW of 282.13 Da) from PH, and peptide P3 with histidine, glycine and alanine (MW of 302.74 Da) from AH was 0.89 and 0.72 mg/mL, respectively. The fractions and purified peptides obtained from Chinese sturgeon hydrolysates could be utilized as natural antioxidant substitutes in pharmaceuticals and food products.     

Microstructural and physicochemical study of the buried Fe/AlGaAs(100) interface by transmission electron microscopy and x‐ray emission spectroscopy

Among the magnetic metal/semiconductor contacts, the Fe/GaAs system has been widely studied owing to its potential applications in electronic devices. In contrast, there are not many studies concerning the Fe/Al_xGa_1?xAs contact, and in particular there are no reports concerning the changes induced in the interfacial zone by the presence of Al. In this work, thin polycrystalline iron films were deposited by ion beam sputtering at room temperature on a 300 nm thick Al_0.25Ga_0.75As layer grown by molecular beam epitaxy onto GaAs(001). X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that the iron films are polycrystalline, and indications of a (002) texture of the film were observed. The fine scale analysis of the interface was achieved by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observations, the results of which are compared with the physicochemical information obtained from electron‐induced x‐ray emission spectroscopy, by analysing the Al 3p valence states at the Fe/Al_xGa_1?xAs interface. The HRTEM experiments on cross‐section samples indicate that the interfacial zone between iron and AlGaAs is limited to <1.5 nm in thickness. X‐ray emission spectroscopy showed the presence of Al atoms in an FeAl‐like environment at the interface, and the existence of wrong bonds and point defects. The estimated width of the perturbed interface (2.0 ± 0.5 nm) is in agreement with the HRTEM results. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ESCA: Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis

A substance on which X-rays fall emits photoelectrons and Auger electrons. The energy spectra of the electrons emitted provide information about the electronic structure in the specimen, ranging from the innermost atomic levels and their dependence on the chemical environment to the molecular orbitals of the valence electrons and the band structure in solids. Electron spectra of this nature can now be recorded with high-resolution instruments; their analysis offers new aspects for investigation of chemical composition. The method of electron spectroscopy developed for this purpose, which has now been developed to a high degree of perfection, will be referred to in the following discussion as ESCA (Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis).     

Time-resolved fluorescence analysis of the mobile flavin cofactor in p -hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase

Conformational heterogeneity of the FAD cofactor in p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) was investigated with time-resolved polarized flavin fluorescence. For binary enzyme/substrate (analogue) complexes of wild-type PHBH and Tyr222 mutants, crystallographic studies have revealed two distinct flavin conformations; the ‘in’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring located in the active site, and the ‘out’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring disposed towards the protein surface. Fluorescence-lifetime analysis of these complexes revealed similar lifetime distributions for the ‘in’ and ‘out’ conformations. The reason for this is twofold. First, the active site of PHBH contains various potential fluorescence-quenching sites close to the flavin. Fluorescence analysis of uncomplexed PHBH Y222V and Y222A showed that Tyr222 is responsible for picosecond fluorescence quenching free enzyme. In addition, other potential quenching sites, including a tryptophan and two tyrosines involved in substrate binding, are located nearby. Since the shortest distance between these quenching sites and the isoalloxazine ring differs only little on average, these aromatic residues are likely to contribute to fluorescence quenching. Second, the effect of flavin conformation on the fluorescence lifetime distribution is blurred by binding of the aromatic substrates: saturation with aromatic substrates induces highly efficient fluorescence quenching. The flavin conformation is therefore only reflected in the small relative contributions of the longer lifetimes.     

The electron microscope characterization of the fine structure of nylon 6: II. On the rearrangement of the structure during cold-drawing

The transmission electron microscope (TEM) visualization of the supermolecular structure of cold-drawn, oriented nylon 6 bulk material (bristles) by stained ultra-thin sections is reported. For evaluating the electron micrographs optical diffraction (OD) has been applied in comparison with small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The deformation of the spherulites was followed by polarization microscopy. In addition, investigations were carried out on commercial nylon 6 fibres. As the main result a transverse structure was revealed within the drawn samples at draw ratios between =4 and 4.5, consisting of mosaic crystals which show some lateral alignment. The structure is described by a modified layer lattice model. While the long period may increase slightly during drawing, the crystallite thickness remains almost constant. Fibres with =3.4 show a similarly oriented structure though the lateral alignment of the crystals is not so pronounced.