Initial oxidation kinetics of copper (1 1 0) film investigated by in situ UHV-TEM

Previous studies of the initial stage of oxidation on clean single crystal of Cu(1 0 0) have been extended to the case of the Cu(1 1 0) surface. The dynamic observation of the nucleation and growth of Cu oxide by means of in situ ultra high vacuum transmission electron microscopy (UHV-TEM) shows a highly enhanced oxidation rate on Cu(1 1 0) surface as compared to Cu(1 0 0). The kinetic data on the nucleation and growth of the three-dimensional oxide islands agree well with our heteroepitaxial model of surface diffusion of oxygen.     

Imaging in turbid media with intensity-modulated lasers

We describe the formation of a narrow beam for intensity-modulated electromagnetic radiation propagating through highly scattering materials. We propose to use this beam to reconstruct images, similar to X-ray back-projection techniques. For sufficiently high modulation frequency, the photon density wave is primarily carried by photons that suffer small or no large-angle scattering, which gives rise to the beam’s narrow divergence. The beam-narrowing concept is supported by large-scale numerical simulations to examine the quality of the imaging.     

Thermal and dilute-solution properties of zwitterionic copolymers

We report the synthesis, characterization, thermal and dilute-solution properties of zwitterionic copolymers of the sulfobetaine type, where the proportion of ionic groups is varied over a wide range. Two different structures are considered: poly (2-vinyl pyridine sulfopropyl betaine) and poly (4-vinyl pyridine sulfopropyl betaine). Synthesis is carried out to obtain random copolymers which are further characterized and their ionic content determined. At low proportions of ionic groups, the behavior is similar to that observed in ionomers, with substantial differences between the two structures, Increased interaction among the zwitterionic groups at higher charge densities is evidenced, which leads to the formation of clusters and agglomerates. An increase in the intrinsic viscosity with salt content in aqueous solutions is also observed. This behavior is analogous to that of homopolymers with 100% ionic content, but with particular features of interest.     

The influence of the liquid crystalline core geometry on the mesogenicity of novel chiral 2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles

The synthesis and characterization of seven novel (R)-2-(4-substituted-phenoxy)propanonitriles are described. The propanonitriles were prepared to evaluate their potential use as thermochromics and ferroelectric dopants, as well as to determine their twist sense properties. The materials exhibit smectic and chiral nematic phases of high thermal stability; the mesogenic behaviour of the nitriles is directly related to the type of two-ring core unit employed. The effects of the different molecular geometries and polarizabilities of the liquid crystalline cores on mesophase stability are discussed, particularly in relation to other members of this series. The chiral nematic phase of the propanonitriles is assigned as having a left-handed twist sense from contact preparation studies, and this is in agreement with rules relating absolute configuration and molecular structure to helical twist sense.     

Structural and spectroscopic studies of silylated cyclo- and bicyclosilanes

A number of cyclo-and bicyclosilanes have been prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy. 1,1,4,4- and 1,1,3,3-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)octamethylcyclohexasilanes were found to exhibit unusual twist- and twisted boat-conformations. The UV absorption properties of all compounds were studied and found to show absorption maxima red shifted compared to the parent compound dodecamethylcyclohexasilane. Dedicated to Prof. Mitsuo Kira on the occasion of his reception of the Wacker Silicon Award 2005 and in recongnition of his numerous outstanding achievements in organosilicon chemistry.     

Understanding the Hofmeister effect in interactions between chaotropic anions and lipid bilayers: molecular dynamics simulations

A set of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to better understand critical phenomena regarding a Hofmeister series of anions and lipid bilayers. The simulations isolate the effect of anion size and show clear differences in the interactions with the dipolar phoshpatidylcholine headgroup. Cl- anions penetrate into the headgroup region of the bilayer, but the simulations confirm theories which predict that larger anions penetrate more deeply, into a more heterogeneous and hydrophobic molecular region. That anion size leads to such differences in partitioning in the bilayer provides atomic-level support to hypotheses inspired by several experimental studies. The ability of larger anions to bury deep within the bilayer is correlated with a less well-structured hydration shell, shedding of which upon penetration incurs a smaller penalty for the larger anions than for Cl-.     

Preparation,properties and X-ray cystal structures of complexes of 4,4-diethylmorpholinium with 2,5-dibromo- and 2,5-dichloro-7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane : DEM(TCNQBr2)2 and DEM-TCNQCl2

4,4-Diethylmorpholinium forms a 1:2 complex with 2,5-dibromo-TCNQ and a 1:1 complex with 2,5-dichloro-TCNQ; both are insulators at room temperature, and their single crystal $\text{X}$-ray structures have been determined at 293 K.     

Alternativ-Liganden. XXIII. Rhodium(I)-Komplexe mit Donor/Akzeptor-Liganden des Typs (Me2PCH2CH2SiX2 und (2-Me2PC6H4)SiXMe2 (X = F,Cl)

Alternative Ligands. XXIII Rhodium(I) Complexes with Donor/Acceptor Ligands of the Type (Me₂PCH₂CH₂)₂SiX₂ and (2-Me₂PC₆H₄)SiXMe₂ (X = F, Cl) Donor/acceptor ligands of the type (Me₂PCH₂CH₂)₂SiX₂ and (2-Me₂PC₆H₄)SiXMe₂ (X = F, Cl) react with [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂ (₁) to give the mononuclear complexes RhCl(CO)(Me₂PCH₂CH₂)₂SiX₂ [X = F( 4 ), Cl ( 5 )] and RhCl(CO)[2-Me₂PC₆H₄)SixMe₂]₂ [X = F ( 8 ), Cl ( 9 )], respectively. In case of the ligands (Me₂PCH₂CH₂)₂SiCl₂ ( 3 ) and (2-Me₂PC₆H₆)SiClMe₂ ( 7 ) the Rh(I) complexes formed in the first step partly undergo oxidative addition reactions of SiCl bonds yielding rhodium(III) compounds of low solubility. Only for 8 the coordination shifts Δδ = δ(complex)?δ(ligand) and coupling constants give some indication to possible Rh→Si interactions. However, the molecular structure of 8 determined by X-ray diffraction does not show RhSi or RhF bonding contacts. The new compounds were characterized by analytical (C, H) and spectroscopic investigations (MS, IR,-NMR).     

The observation of a large gauche preference when 2-fluoroethylamine and 2-fluoroethanol become protonated

The energies of the gauche and anti conformers of 2-fluoroethylamine, 2-fluoroethanol and their protonated analogues are calculated using density functional theory. Unlike the non protonated systems, the protonated systems show a strong gauche effect where the C-F and the C-(+)NH(3) or C-F and C-(+)OH(2) bonds are gauche rather than anti to each other. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 2-fluoroethylammonium compounds identify the same conformational preference.