Positive photosensitive polyimides with cyclobutane structure

A new family of positive photosensitive polyimide (PPI) systems composed of solvent soluble polyimides (Pls) with cyclobutane (CBDA) structures and diazonaphthoquinone compounds (DNQ) has been prepared. Heat and catalytic imidizations were carried out to obtain CBDA Pls; the former was better than the latter in controlling the molecular weight of the Pl. The ? OH groups in the Pls were easily acetylated during catalytic imidization, so ? COOH groups were selected as weak acidic groups in the Pls. The ? COOH groups were also effective in giving the Pls an alkaline solubility. Therefore, Pls having ? COOH groups were superior to those having ? OH groups for PPI systems. The photosensitive properties of various PPl systems containing ? COOH were found to vary with the fraction of ? COOH groups in the Pls, the content of DNQ in the systems, and the molecular weight of the Pls.     

High-throughput characterization of local conductivity of Nd0.9Ca0.1Ba2Cu3O7−δ thin film by the low-temperature scanning microwave microscope

We developed a scanning microwave microscope (SμM) designed for high-throughput electric-property screening as well as for rapid construction of electronic phase diagrams at low temperatures. As a sensor probe, we used a high-Qλ/4 coaxial cavity resonator to which a thin needle with ball-tip end was attached. The sensor module was mounted on the low-temperature XYZ stage, which allowed us to map out the change of resonance frequency and quality factor due to the local tip-sample interaction at low temperatures. From the measurements of combinatorial thin films, such as Ti_1−xCo_xO_2−δ and Nd_0.9Ca_0.1Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ (NCBCO), it was demonstrated that this SμM system has enough performance for the high-throughput characterization of sample conductance under variable temperature conditions.     

Photo-Absorption and photochemical decomposition of copper and alkaline-earth ß-diketonates as source gases of high-Tc superconducting films

For low-temperature deposition of oxide films relating to Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductors, photo-absorption and -decomposition properties were examined with respect to copper and alkaline-earth ß-diketonates. It was confirmed that all ß-diketonates examined were promising as source materials for photochemical vapour deposition (photo-CVD) using a low-pressure mercury lamp, in view of their large light absorption coefficients at wavelength 254 nm. The light irradiation was effective for the formation of highly crystalline oxide films at temperatures below 600 °C. By combining two sources, Ca₂CuO₃ and SrCuO₂ films were prepared. Photo-CVD of c-axis oriented Bi₂Sr₂CuO_x film was achieved by the irradiation of ternary sources of Bi(C₆H₅)₃ and strontium and copper ß-diketonates at 500 °C.     

Pressure and temperature effects on the excess deuteron and proton conductance

The limiting molar conductances ° of deuterium chloride DCl in D₂O were determined as a function of pressure and temperature in order to examine the proton-jump mechanism in detail. The excess deuteron conductances °_E(D ⁺), as estimated by the equation [°_E(D ⁺) = °(DCl/D ₂ O) – °(KCl/D ₂ O)], increases with an increase in the pressure and temperature as well as the excess proton conductance [°_E(H ⁺) = °(HCl/H ₂ O) – °(KCl/H ₂ O)]. The isotope effect on the excess conductances, however, depends on the pressure and temperature contrary to the model proposed by Conway et al.: °_E(H ⁺)/°_E(D ⁺) decreases with increasing pressure and temperature. The magnitude of the decrease with pressure becomes more prominent at lower temperature. These results are discussed in terms of the pre-rotation of adjacent water molecules, the bending of hydrogen bonds with pressure, and the difference in strength of hydrogen bonds between D₂O and H₂O.     

PICOSECOND LASER PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES OF FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING MECHANISMS OF FLAVIN: A DIRECT OBSERVATION OF INDOLE-FLAVIN SINGLET CHARGE TRANSFER STATE FORMATION IN SOLUTIONS and FLAVOENZYMES

Formation of singlet charge transfer (heteroexcimer) states in the course of the fluorescence quenching of lumiflavin and riboflavin tetrabutyrate by indole and N-methylindole have been directly observed by means of time-resolved absorption spectral measurements using a picosecond laser photolysis method. Similar transient spectra have been observed also in the case of a flavoenzyme, D-amino acid oxidase.     

Revaluation of the correlation of isomer shift with Np-O bond length in various neptunyl(V and VI) compounds

Summary The correlations of isomer shifts in various neptunyl(V and VI) compounds with crystallographic structures were revaluated. A linear correlation between the isomer shifts of neptunyl(VI) compounds and Np-O bond lengths of neptunyl group has been demonstrated. On the other hand, it has been evidenced that the isomer shifts of neptunyl(V) compounds are correlated much stronger with the mean Np-O distances in the crystals than the lengths in neptunyl(V) group.     

Neutron diffraction study of crystal structure and antiferromagnetic ordering in the heavy fermion compound CePd2Al3

Nuclear and magnetic structures of an annealed polycrystalline sample of the heavy-fermion compound CePd₂Al₃ prepared by arc-melting were investigated by neutron powder diffraction. The chemical structure corresponds well to the ordered hexagonal PrNi₂Al₃-type structure. The antiferromagnetic structure of CePd₂Al₃ with an ordered magnetic moment _Ce=0.47(2) _B at saturation is remarkably similar to that in the heavy fermion superconductor UPd₂Al₃. The additional incommensurate magnetic structures reported previously both for UPd₂Al₃ and CePd₂Al₃ are not observed in the present sample of CePd₂Al₃. At 1.4 K the magnetoresistivity of CePd₂Al₃ measured up to 14 T indicates only one field-induced phase transition at 3.0 T.