Isoperichoric focusing field-flow fractionation and thin layer isoperichoric focusing based on coupling of gradient generated by primary field with secondary field action: general principles and performances

The primary field forces can generate spatially oriented gradient of the effective property of a continuum or pseudo-continuum fluid (carrier liquid). When this gradient is coupled with the action of a secondary field of identical or different nature the isoperichoric focused zones of the dispersed species can appear. Consequently, they can be separated according to differences responding to the property gradient of the carrier liquid. This concept can be applied under static (non-flow) conditions in thin layer focusing as well as under dynamic conditions with the elution due to the carrier liquid flow in focusing field-flow fractionation. The gradient established by the action of the primary field and the concentration distribution of the isoperichoric focused zone formed by the coupled effect of the gradient and of the primary or secondary field are described theoretically. The rigorous relationship describing the shape of the focused zone is compared with the approximate solutions. The performances of the proposed principle were evaluated by model calculations. Potential experimental configurations considering the implementation of the static and dynamic conditions are discussed. The generalized isoperichoric focusing theory can be applied to describe the particular processes operating in analytical and preparative focusing separations of the particles of various, but especially of biological origin.     

Determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples. The method utilises an off-line microwave digestion stage followed by analysis using a flow injection system with detection by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

The method has been validated using two certified reference materials (DORM-1 dogfish and MESS-2 estuarine sediment) and the results agreed well with the certified values. A detection limit of 0.2 ng g⁻¹ Hg was obtained and no significant interference was observed. The method was finally applied to the determination of mercury in river sediments and canned tuna fish, and gave results in the range 0.1–3.0 mg kg⁻¹.     

Structural and Optical Properties of Sol-Gel Derived Aluminosilicate Planar Waveguides Doped with Er3+ Ions

Er3+ doped-aluminosilicate thin films were prepared on silica and silica/Si substrates by the sol-gel process and dip-coating. The sol-gel aluminosilicate planar waveguides were prepared from silicon and aluminium alkoxides. Their structural characterization has been carried out by Raman spectroscopy, Atomic Force and Scanning Electron Microscopies. The results indicated that these films present an amorphous structure until an annealing temperature of 900°C, while at temperatures higher than 1000°C, crystallization occurs. An estimate of microcrystallite sizes using Raman spectroscopy is given, which agrees with data from scanning electron microscopy. The optical properties have been investigated by Fluorescence spectroscopy in the visible region.     

金属基上以YSZ为过渡层的YBCO薄膜的微观结构

采用透射电子显微术（ＴＥＭ），研究了用磁控溅射技术在柔性金属基体上制备的、钇稳定的ＺｒＯ２（ＹＳＺ）为过镀层的ＹＢａ２Ｃｕ３Ｏ７－ｙ（ＹＢＣＯ）薄膜的横断面结构。所得ＹＢＣＯ膜的超导临界转变温度Ｔｃ为９１Ｋ，临界电流密度Ｊｃ＝２×１０３Ａ／ｃｍ２（７７Ｋ，０Ｔ）。基体为Ｎｉ基合金（ＨａｓｔｅｌｏｙＣ）。ＹＳＺ层为致密、均匀的细晶组织，约１２μｍ厚，具有织构取向，并与基体紧密连接。ＹＢＣＯ层的厚度不均匀，约５００ｎｍ；ＹＢＣＯ／ＹＳＺ界面有时连接较差，在该界面上有杂质出现，杂质有可能引发裂纹。     

Sol-Gel Preparation and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Fe2TiO5 Thin Films

Polycrystalline Fe₂TiO₅ films were prepared on nesa silica glass substrates by the sol-gel method, and their photoanodic properties were measured in a three-electrode wet cell with an aqueous buffer solution of pH = 7. Gel films were crystallized into Fe₂TiO₅ when fired at 500°C. The photoanodic current significantly increased when the films were fired at 700°C, and then decreased with increasing firing temperature. Thicker films obtained by repeating the gel film deposition and firing showed smaller photocurrent, and the 50 nm thick film prepared via non-repetitive deposition exhibited the maximum photocurrent. Although the photoresponse was extended to wavelengths near 500 nm, the maximum quantum yield was as low as 0.12 at a wavelength of 340 nm.     

Evaluation of the sputtering rate variation in SIMS ultra‐shallow depth profiling using multiple short‐period delta layers

We have developed multiple short‐period delta layers as a reference material for SIMS ultra‐shallow depth profiling. Boron nitride delta layers and silicon spacer layers were sputter‐deposited alternately, with a silicon spacer thickness of 1–5 nm. These delta‐doped layers were used to measure the sputtering rate change in the initial stage of oxygen ion bombardment. A significant variation of sputtering rate was observed in the initial 3 nm or less. The sputtering rate in the initial 3 nm was estimated to be about four times larger than the steady‐state value for 1000 eV oxygen ions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electron microscopic phase analysis of BN-thin films

A series of BN films was deposited by means of r.f. magnetron sputtering of a h-BN target onto Si(1OO) surfaces. Hereby, the substrate bias voltage was varied. Special interest is focussed to the influence of the deposition parameters on the orientation of the growing hexagonal BN film with respect to the substrate. For structural investigation, cross section samples were prepared. In addition to HRTEM and diffraction investigations, especially electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) was applied successfully for phase identification. For negative bias voltages of U _B =–300 V and U _B =–350V, we found a phase system consisting of a first-grown 25 nm thick layer of hexagonal structure with the c axis parallel to the substrate surface followed by the cubic phase.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer. nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

Methyl cellulose-based edible films and coatings I. Effect of plasticizer content on water and 1-octen-3-ol sorption and transport

Edible films were prepared from methyl cellulose with various concentrations of poly(ethylene glycol) 400 (PEG400) used as a plasticizer. Water vapour and 1-octen-3-ol (an aroma compound) were selected as hydrophilic and hydrophobic volatile penetrants respectively. Their solubility and permeability through methyl cellulose-based edible films were studied using gas chromatography methods. Whatever penetrant was used, the flux increased with the PEG400 content. Transfer behaviour, i.e., the order of increased magnitude of the transfer rate, strongly depends on the nature of the volatile compound. However, water sorption only depends on the PEG400 content whereas the aroma compound sorption is affected by both the water and the PEG400 concentrations. Relationships between solubility and permeability can be partially explained by the plasticization phenomenon.     

Thin‐Layer Cyclic Voltammetric and Scanning Electrochemical Microscopic Study of Antioxidant Activity of Ascorbic Acid at Liquid/Liquid Interface

An electron transfer reaction between ascorbic acid (H₂A) in an aqueous solution and oxidizing agent in an organic solution immiscible with water has been studied by thin‐layer cyclic voltammetry (TLCV) for charge transfer at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). As an antioxidant, H₂A provide electrons through the aqueous/organic interface to reduce Fc⁺ and the procedure has been proved to be a one electron process again. In this work, the first combination of TLCV and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was achieved and showed a reasonable agreement between the results from the two different approaches. Otherwise, lower concentration ratios Kr of aqueous to organic reactants was adopted, which is given as evidence to the proposed procedure of Barker.