High resolution X-ray diffraction of GaN grown on Si (1 1 1) by MOVPE

High temperature GaN layers have been grown on Si (1 1 1) substrate by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). AlN was used as a buffer layer and studied as a function of thickness and growth temperature. The growth was monitored by in situ laser reflectometry. High resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) revealed that optimized monocrystalline GaN was obtained for a 40 nm AlN grown at 1080 °C. This is in good agreement with the results of morphological study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and also confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations. The best morphology of AlN with columnar structure and lower rms surface roughness is greatly advantageous to the coalescence of the GaN epilayer. Symmetric and asymmetric GaN reflections were combined for twist and stress measurements in monocrystalline GaN. It was found that mosaicity and biaxial tensile stress are still high in 1.7 μm GaN. Curvature radius measurement was also done and correlated to the cracks observations over the GaN surface.     

Echiofruzine, a novel naringenin diglycoside from Echiochilon fruticosum growing in Tunisia

The aerial parts of the Tunisian plant Echiochilon fruticosum yielded a novel flavonol diglycoside: naringenin-5-O-beta-D-glycopyranoside-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside, named Echiofruzine (1), together with the known compounds vomifoliol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyraroside (2), 1-oxo-alpha-ionyl-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 1-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl] eugenol (4), described for the first time in the indicated plant. The structures of the four isolated compounds were established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.     

New silica hybrids elaborated by sol-gel process from bifunctional thiadiazole and 1,2,4-triazole precursors

New hybrid materials were synthesized from an inorganic precursor, (tetraethoxysilane: TEOS) and bifunctional organic precursors through the sol-gel process. Indeed, monolithic and transparent hybrid gels were obtained by the reaction of tetraethoxysilicate (TEOS) with 1,2,4-thiadiazole-3,5-diamine (1), 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol (2), and 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (3) in ethanol as solvent, using chloric acid (HCl 10^?1M) as catalyst. It is shown that TEOS has been cross-linked with bi-functional heterocyclic compounds: (1), (2) and (3) leading to the formation of transparent and colorous gels. The characterization was realized by infrared, ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP MAS NMR. The xerogels morphology and texture were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer – Emmet – Teller method (BET). The obtained results show that organic adducts (1), (2) and (3) react with TEOS leading to gels in which Si–N and Si–S bridges were formed. According to N₂-physisorption results, xerogels are mesoporous with specific surface area varied from 105 to 312 m²g^?1 and their isotherms are classified as type IV. The optic and magnetic properties of hybrids were studied respectively by UV-Vis spectroscopy and RPE. This study showed that all materials are paramagnetic semiconductors.     

Comparative vapour phase FTIR spectra and vibrational assignment of manganese pentacarbonyls derivatives of the type XMn(CO)5: (where X=Br, Cl, I, H, D, CH3, CD3, CF3)

The infrared spectra of pure Mn(CO)(5)X in the region 4000-400 cm(-1) has been obtained in the vapour phase. The observed spectrum has been analyzed to distinguish the fundamental frequencies, the rotational-vibrational and structure, and overtone and combination frequencies. The assignment of the observed vapour phase frequencies to the fundamental modes of vibration has been made on C(4V) symmetry. The weak peaks due to XMn(CO)(4)((13)CO) molecules have been measured and assigned for all molecules. This study provides a comprehensive comparison of these compounds, with all of these data the assignment of frequencies is reviewed and a set of quite unambiguous assignments made. The significant finding in this regards are that, it is not necessary to assume lower than C(4V) symmetry for XMn(CO)(5) as has been done in previous consideration of some infrared spectrum of these compounds.     

Silane layers on silicon surfaces: mechanism of interaction, stability, and influence on protein adsorption

In this work the mechanism of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) interaction with silicon surfaces is investigated at the molecular level. We studied the influence of experimental parameters such as time, temperature, and concentration on the quality of the APTES layer in terms of chemical properties, morphology, and stability in aqueous medium. This was achieved using a highly sensitive IR mode recently developed, grazing angle attenuated total reflection (GA-ATR). This technique provides structural information on the formed APTES layer. The topography of this layer was investigated by atomic force microscopy in aqueous medium. The hydrophilicity was also studied using contact angle measurement. Combining these techniques enables discussion of the mechanism of silane grafting. Considerable differences were observed depending on the reaction temperature, room temperature or 90 °C. The data suggest the presence of two adsorption sites with different affinities on the oxidized silicon layer. This also allows the optimal parameters to be established to obtain an ordered and stable silane layer. The adsorption of proteins on the APTES layer was achieved and monitored using in situ quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring and ex situ GA-ATR analyses.     

Antifungal effects of secondary metabolites isolated from marine organisms collected from the Tunisian coast

Phallusides 1,2,3 (1), Fasciculatin (2), Acanthelline (3), Axisonitrile (4), Oroïdin (5) and the Novel bromopyrolimidazolic compound Axinellizine (6) were evaluated for their antifungal effects against several phytopatogenic fungi and were found to possess considerable activities. Insecticidal effect of only Acanthellin (3) against the major pest of stored products Tribolium confusum Duv has been carried out using direct contact application method showing a significant inhibitory effect of the test material on the T. confusum Duv larvae growth. Forty-five percent mortality of the adults was achieved 8 days after treatment.