Comparison of the growth and degradation of poly(glycolic acid) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) brushes

The growth and degradation of poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) and poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) brushes were compared. Using tin (octanoate) as the catalyst, optimal conditions were found for growth of each polyester brush from the hydroxy‐terminated silicon surface via ring‐opening polymerization. PCL brushes grew thicker at elevated temperatures but the thickest PGA brushes grew at room temperature. Unlike bulk polyesters that can degrade under both acidic and basic conditions, the confined surface polyester brushes only degraded under neutral or basic conditions. The degradation mechanism of grafted polyester brushes was probed through a blocking test. It was shown that the terminal hydroxy groups of these polyester brushes were essential to the degradation process indicating a preferential backbiting mechanism. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4643–4649     

From defects creation to circuit reliability - A bottom-up approach (invited)

This paper presents a theoretical framework about interface states creation rate from Si-H bonds at the Si/SiO₂ interface. It includes three mains ways of bond breaking. In the first case, the bond can be broken thanks to the bond ground state rising with an electrical field. In the two others cases, incident carriers will play the main role either if there are very energetic or very numerous but less energetic. This concept allows us physically modeling the reliability of MOSFET transistors, and particularly NBTI permanent part, and Channel Hot Carrier (CHC) to Cold Carrier (CCC) damage. Finally, the translation of these physical models into reliability spice models is discussed. These models pave the way to Design-in Reliability (DiR) approach which seeks to provide a quantitative assessment of reliability - CMOS device reliability in this case - at design stage thereby enabling judicious margins to be taken beforehand.     

一种镍基单晶高温合金中碳化物热稳定性研究

利用SEM、TEM研究了一种镍基单晶高温合金中碳化物在950℃时效不同时间的退化规律。固溶处理过程中形成的MC碳化物随时效时间的增加而逐渐退化为M6 C和M23 C6碳化物。同时,由于在时效处理过程中Re元素进入M6 C碳化物中,破坏了其结构稳定性,促使M6 C碳化物也可以退化为M23 C6碳化物。至时效3000 h时,没有观察到碳化物退化的逆反应。本研究可以为高温合金高温下服役的稳定性提供实验参考。     

Pesticide‐conjugated polyacrylate nanoparticles: novel opportunities for improving the photostability of emamectin benzoate

Emamectin benzoate, a macrocyclic lactone, can be used in low quantities to control arthropod pests, effectively. However, its poor photostability prevents its further use. To delay its photodegradation, novel acrylate‐type polymeric nanoparticles were synthesized and tested as materials for improving pesticide photostability. N‐acylated emamectin benzoate was synthesized via bonding emamectin benzoate to acrylamide. The resulting pesticide, containing the double bond linkage –C=C–N–, was copolymerized with butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate by the emulsion polymerization method. The refined polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectroscopy, and result illustrated the pesticide was conjugated to the polymers. Atomic force microscope and dynamic light scattering analyses were also used for determining the average particle diameters of pesticide–polymer conjugates. Photostability tests showed that the nanoparticles obtained exhibited greatly improved photostability. Additionally, the laboratory toxicity tests demonstrated that the insecticidal effects of the novel emamectin benzoate formulation were better than those of the control pesticide formulation (emamectin benzoate EC). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simulation of chemical metabolism for fate and hazard assessment. I. Approach for simulating metabolism

Information regarding the metabolism of xenobiotic chemicals plays a central role in regulatory risk assessments. In regulatory programmes where metabolism studies are required, the studies of metabolic pathways are often incomplete and the identification of activated metabolites and important degradation products are limited by analytical methods. Because so many more new chemicals are being produced than can be assessed for potential hazards, setting assessment priorities among the thousands of untested chemicals requires methods for predictive hazard identification which can be derived directly from chemical structure and their likely metabolites. In a series of papers we are sharing our experience in the computerized management of metabolic data and the development of simulators of metabolism for predicting the environmental fate and (eco)toxicity of chemicals. The first paper of the series presents a knowledge-based formalism for the computer simulation of non-intermediary metabolism for untested chemicals, with an emphasis on qualitative and quantitative aspects of modelling metabolism.     

The natural evolution of green chemistry

Abstract

Zinc dust serves as a reducing agent in the presence of ammonium formate and NaOH, and is highly effective for the hydrodebromination of decabromodiphenyl ether to give diphenyl ether and the less brominated diphenyl ethers.     

Failure analysis of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic modules: degradation mechanism of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells under harsh environmental conditions

High‐temperature‐induced and humidity‐induced degradation behaviors were investigated through the failure analysis of encapsulated Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) modules and non‐encapsulated CIGS cells. After being exposed to high temperature (85 °C) for 1000 h, the efficiency loss of CIGS modules and the resistivities of the aluminum‐doped zinc oxide (AZO) layer, CIGS layer, and Mo layer were slightly increased. After damp heat (DH) testing (85 °C/85% RH), the efficiency of some modules decreased significantly accompanied by discoloration, and in these areas, the resistivity of the AZO layers increased markedly. The causes of degradation of CIGS cells after high temperature and DH tests were suggested through X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The high‐temperature‐induced degradation behaviors were revealed to be increases in series resistance of the CIGS cells, due to the adsorption of oxygen on the AZO, CIGS, and Mo layers. The degradation behavior after DH (85 °C/85% RH) exposure was caused by the adsorption of oxygen, as well as the generation of Zn(OH)₂ due to water molecules. In particular, the humidity‐induced degradation behavior in discolored CIGS modules was ascribed to the generation of Zn(OH)₂ and carboxylic acids in the AZO layer, due to a chemical reaction between the AZO, ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer, and water. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

聚乳酸/β-磷酸三钙多孔复合支架的制备及性能研究

以聚乳酸和β-磷酸三钙共混制备了多孔复合支架,并对其孔隙率、降解性和力学性能进行了研究。结果表明,β-磷酸三钙的引入可以有效地减缓支架的降解,提高支架的力学性能。