Electron Probe Microanalysis of HfO2 Thin Films on Conductive and Insulating Substrates

Quantitative electron probe microanalysis of highly insulating materials is a complicated problem, partially solved by coating samples with grounded thin conductive layers or using novel scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, such as low-voltage and/or variable pressure SEM. In this work, some problems of quantitative X-ray microanalysis of thin HfO₂ films, in particular the possibility to determine mass thickness correlated to the density of the layer material, are discussed. For comparison, Al₂O₃, Ta₂O₅ and TiO₂ films grown onto both semiconductive Si and insulating quartz substrates were also analysed. All the films studied were synthesized by atomic layer deposition method.     

Synthesis of the methanesulfonates of α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-[1-(2-chlorophenyl)emenyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol and α-[1-(2-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]-α-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol,alpha styryl carbinol antifungal agents

The methanesulfonates of (α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-[1-(2-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol and α-[1-(2-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]-α-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-ethanol ( 1a, b ) are orally effective α-styryl carbinol derivatives developed for the treatment and prevention of systemic fungal infections. Practical new processes amenable for the large-scale production of these compounds are described. Of note is the selection of dichlorostyrene as a convenient precursor of the styryl portion, modification of a sensitive Grignard addition into a realistic preparative reaction and the use of 1,2,4-triazole simultaneously as a base transfer agent and nucleophile.     

Ab initio and DFT calculations for the structure and vibrational spectra of cyclopentene and its isotopomers

Ab initio calculations using the MP2/cc-pVTZ basis set do an excellent job of predicting the inversion barrier (247 vs. 232 cm⁻¹) and dihedral angle (26°) of cyclopentene. DFT calculations also do an excellent job of predicting the vibrational frequencies of the d₀, d₁, d₄, and d₈ isotopomers. They have also allowed the reassignments of several of the vibrational frequencies.     

S0 ring-puckering potential energy function for coumaran

With the aid of a reported inversion splitting value, the far-infrared spectrum resulting from the ring-puckering vibration of coumaran has been reassigned and the one-dimensional potential energy function has been determined. The barrier to planarity is 155 +/- 4 cm(-1) and the dihedral angle is 25 degrees . These results agree well with the millimeter wave spectra values of 152 cm(-1) and 23 degrees , which utilized different data and a different type of potential function for the calculations. The MP2/cc-pvtz ab initio values of 238 cm(-1) and 26.5 degrees agree more poorly. If the benzene ring is assumed to remain rigid, the calculated barrier drops to 204 cm(-1). The puckering potential functions for the ring-flapping and ring-twisting vibrationally excited states were also determined and the barriers were found to be 149 and 156 cm(-1), respectively.     

Theory of crystallizable block copolymers

We present an equilibrium theory of diblock copolymers in which one of the blocks is crystallizable and the other is amorphous. The material is assumed to order in a lamellar structure of alternating semi-crystalline and amorphous layers with the chemical bonds which connect the copolymer blocks lying in the interfacial regions between the layers. The amorphous blocks are modelled as flexible chains, each with one end (the joint) anchored in an interface. Their contribution to the free energy is calculated via the self-consistent solution of the modified diffusion equations. The crystalline regions are modelled as folded chains, also with one end in an interfacial region (bonded to the corresponding end of an amorphous block). We find that the calculated amorphous block-free energies can be expressed as a single universal function depending on the total degree of polymerization of the amorphous block, its stretching, and a parameter proportional to the thickness of the interface. We have fitted an analytical form to this function, which can be used for any amorphous block, and we have combined it with our model of the crystallizable block to obtain scaling laws describing the equilibrium morphology.     

Modular amino alcohol ligands containing bulky alkyl groups as chiral controllers for Et2Zn addition to aldehydes: illustration of a design principle

A new family of enantiomerically pure (1S,2R)-1-alkyl-2-(dialkylamino)-3-(R-oxy)-1-propanols containing a very bulky alkyl substituent (tert-butyl or 1-adamantyl) on their hydrocarbon chains has been synthesized from the corresponding enantiopure epoxy alcohols, arising from the catalytic Sharpless epoxidation, by protection of the primary hydroxy group and subsequent regioselective ring opening of the epoxide by a secondary cyclic amine (C-2 attack). The performance of these amino alcohols as ligands for the catalytic enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde has been studied, with enantioselectivities of 92-96% being recorded. The best performing ligands, those with a bulky R-oxy group, also depict a convenient activity and selectivity profile in the addition of Et(2)Zn to a representative family of aldehydes. An anomalous structure/enantioselectivity relationship of some ligands in the tert-butyl series has been studied using PM3 calculations, and conclusions have been drawn on the possible effects of including in modular designs structural fragments giving rise to a variety of rotameric transition states.     

Ramped-speed cross polarization MAS NMR

The inverse cubic dependency of the acceleration of a rotor on its diameter allows for mechanical dynamics comparable to spin dynamics in coupled spin systems. Rotor acceleration up to 300 kHz/s was measured. This feature can be used to simplify existing experiments and explore entirely new ones in the study of spin topologies and material properties.     

Gas-phase Raman spectra of hot bands of fundamentals and combinations associated with the torsional vibration of s-trans-1,3-butadiene and its deuterated isotopologues

The gas-phase Raman spectra of 1,3-butadiene and its 2,3-d₂, 1,1,4,4-d₄, and d₆ isotopologues have been recorded with high sensitivity and resolution of 0.7 cm⁻¹. Hot band series of fundamentals and combinations involving the ν₁₃ torsional vibration of the s-trans rotamer have been observed for each of the isotopologues. Modes studied were ν₁₀ (CH wag), ν₁₂ (CH₂ twist), ν₁₀ + ν₁₂, ν₁₅ (CH₂ wag) + ν₁₆ (CH₂ twist), and ν₂₃ (CH₂ rock) + ν₂₄ (CCC deformation). The spacings of the quantum states of the torsional contribution were found to decrease with additional excitation of this mode (ν₁₃) in the upper vibrational states except for the ν₂₃ + ν₂₄ combination state.     

Experimental investigation of various turbulator inserts in gas-heated channels

This experimental research was focused on the investigation of the heat transfer augmentation by various turbulator inserts in gas-heated channels. The work was conducted directly in a convective part of a two fire-tube boiler. The flue ducts were positioned vertically and horizontally for various design applications. Twisted-tape insert (with the twist ratio y=4.12), the straight-tape insert, and the combined turbulator insert (the internal twisted tape with the twist ratio of 180° y=2.16 and an external tape, which spirally winded on an internal tape, with longitudinal pitch H_360°=110 mm and the relative height of a tape (rib) e/D₀=0.098;0.2) were investigated. The working fluids were the combustion products of light oil fuel and wood pellets. In addition, the experiments were conducted in the two fire-tube boiler without any inserts. Despite of relatively large data scattering obtained in these experiments some qualitative and quantitative conclusions were drawn.