3D‐morphology reconstruction of nanoscale phase‐separation in polymer memory blends

In many organic electronic devices functionality is achieved by blending two or more materials, typically polymers or molecules, with distinctly different optical or electrical properties in a single film. The local scale morphology of such blends is vital for the device performance. Here, a simple approach to study the full 3D morphology of phase‐separated blends, taking advantage of the possibility to selectively dissolve the different components is introduced. This method is applied in combination with AFM to investigate a blend of a semiconducting and ferroelectric polymer typically used as active layer in organic ferroelectric resistive switches. It is found that the blend consists of a ferroelectric matrix with three types of embedded semiconductor domains and a thin wetting layer at the bottom electrode. Statistical analysis of the obtained images excludes the presence of a fourth type of domains. The criteria for the applicability of the presented technique are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1231–1237     

Thermal analysis of glasses for proecological applications

Thermal behaviour and biochemical activity of potassium-silicate-phosphate glasses modified by addition of Ca, Mg, acting as ecological fertilisers of controlled release rate of the nutrients for plants were studied. It has been found that the biochemical activity of silicate-phosphate glasses depends on the nature and the number of components forming the glassy framework and is related to the thermal stability of glass demonstrated by the formation of new compounds during the process of crystallisation. It is proved that these seemingly different properties are determined by the same parameters which are the strengths bonds of glass network-formers and modifiers as well as their chemical affinity. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nanometric Antimony Powder Synthesis by Activated Alkaline Hydride Reduction of Antimony Pentachloride

A novel chemical reduction method using an activated alkaline hydride (LiH or NaH-t-BuONa) in tetrahydrofuran solvent has been applied to antimony salt reduction. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies have been carried out to characterize the morphology and structure of the materials. Alkali hydride nature influence has been proved. In both cases the process allows to prepare antimony particles in nanometer range from few nanometers to about 20nm which could be used as anodic materials for lithium–ion batteries. With lithium hydride well-crystallized particles inclined to agglomeration were observed whereas finely dispersed amorphous particles were pointing out after activated sodium hydride reduction.     

Scanning probe microscopy studies of PbS surfaces oxidized in air and etched in aqueous acid solutions

Natural n-type PbS single crystals have been studied using AFM, STM and STS after long-term oxidation in air at ambient temperatures and extensive etching in aqueous acid solutions, in contrast to previous work devoted to initial corrosion of fresh surfaces. The exposure of PbS to atmosphere at high relative humidity for several days yields widespread loose oxidation products; the process is much slower at low humidity. Surface morphologies diverge after the treatment in 1 M perchloric and hydrochloric acid solutions at room temperature and become widely different at elevated temperatures, displaying commonly etch pits up to several micrometers in size and depth along with rather uniformly distributed 20-100 nm protrusions of PbS phase. The changes both in topography and semiconducting properties of PbS found by tunneling spectroscopy have been explained in terms of the non-uniform distribution of donor- and acceptor-type defects D⁺/D⁻ in the metal depleted surface layer, which are generated by chemical reactions and, in turn, determine the rates of the PbS corrosion. In particular, the D⁻ centers exhibit a self-catalyzing effect on the non-oxidative local dissolution of PbS in HCl media, resulting in the deep etch pits.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of multilayer Ni/Cu and NiFe/Cu nanowires

Highly ordered composite nanowires with multilayer Ni/Cu and NiFe/Cu have been fabricated by pulsed electrodeposition into nanoporous alumina membrane. The diameter of wires can be easily varied by pore size of alumina, ranging from 30 to 100 nm. The applied potential and the duration of each potential square pulse determine the thickness of the metal layers. The nanowires have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), magnetic force microscopy (MFM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements. The MFM images indicate that every ferromagnetic layer separated by Cu layer was present as single isolated domain-like magnet. This technique has potential use in the measurement and application of magnetic nanodevices.     

Catalytic Activity of Nickel Alloys in Anodic Oxidation of the Hypophosphite Ion as a Function of Their Composition

The rate of anodic oxidation of the hypophosphite ion on alloys Ni-P, Ni-B, and Ni-Mo-P is studied as a function of their composition and structure. The organic compounds that are customarily used to stabilize electrolytes of electroless nickel plating are shown to come useful when controlling composition of the Ni-P coatings at the expense of their different influence on the rates of partial processes of deposition of the alloy components. The formation of catalytic activity of such coatings is affected mostly by a structural factor. With alloys Ni-P, Ni-B, and Ni-Mo-P, whose composition was varied by altering the concentration of the source of the alloying component, dependence of catalytic activity of the surface on the composition is defined mainly by an electronic factor.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 8, 2005, pp. 972–980.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Sotskaya, Dolgikh, Ryabinina.     

SPE电极上Pt单组分及Pt-Au双组分还原态CO_2阳极剥离电化学氧化行为研究

采用循环伏安法，对ＳＰＥＰｔ电极以及ＳＰＥＡｕ－Ｐｔ电极上还原态ＣＯ２的电化学氧化行为研究表明，此类电极的电化学特性与光滑Ｐｔ电极一致：ＣＯ２在氢原子吸附电位区０～２５０ｍＶ（ｖｓ．ＲＨＥ）处，可与电极上化学吸附的氢反应，生成还原态的ＣＯ２，通过线性扫描，还原态ＣＯ２即发生一不可逆电化学氧化过程（阳极剥离）．在ＳＰＥＰｔ系列及ＳＰＥＡｕ－Ｐｔ系列上ＣＯ２的电化学行为表明，当ＳＰＥＰｔ系列上Ｐｔ的载量为２．５ｍＬ的０．０１ｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１Ｈ２ＰｔＣｌ６的Ｐｔ时，对还原态ＣＯ２的电催化活性最好，当Ｐｔ的载量相同时，在ＳＰＥＡｕ－Ｐｔ上，催化剂对还原态ＣＯ２的电化学氧化行为比ＳＰＥＰｔ电极更强，这是由于预先沉积的Ａｕ对后沉积的Ｐｔ有调制作用．     

Solid-state interactions and drug release of teicoplanin in binary combinations with peracetylated α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins

Triacetyl α-cyclodextrin, triacetyl β-cyclodextrin and triacetyl γ-cyclodextrin were tested as possible hydrophobic carriers to prolong the release of hydrophilic teicoplanin (TCP). Physical–chemical characterization of individual components, drug-carrier physical mixtures at 0.5, 0.67 and 0.75 mass fraction of carrier, and the respective interaction products by kneading or evaporative crystallization under microwave irradiation was carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In vitro drug release in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer at 37 °C was determined by intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) measurements on non disintegrating compressed discs. Solid-state interactions of TCP with triacetyl α-cyclodextrin by evaporative crystallization and kneading and with triacetyl β-cyclodextrin by evaporative crystallization (probably resulting in carrier amorphization) were demonstrated. The role of carrier hydrophobicity, carrier mass fraction and preparation method of solid drug-carrier combinations on solid-state drug-carrier interactions and slowing down of TCP release was assessed. Modulation of drug release can be achieved using TCP-triacetyl γ-cyclodextrin combinations at 0.5 mass fraction of carrier.     

Construction of solid-liquid phase diagrams in ternary systems by titration calorimetry

Titration calorimetry was used to construct the solid-liquid equilibrium line in ternary systems containing the solute and an aqueous mixed solvent by measuring the heat of dissolution of the solid solute during successive additions of the liquid solvent. The plot of cumulated heats versus the mole ratio, n_solvent/n_solute, yields two (almost) linear increases of different slopes. These two lines represent successively the enthalpy of dissolution then the enthalpy of dilution of the medium; their intersection gives the solubility and the enthalpy of dissolution of the solute. Phase diagrams have been established over the whole concentration range for o-anisaldehyde, 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene and vanillin, in water + methanol, +ethanol, or +n-propanol at 303, 313 and 318 K.     

表面能与晶体生长/溶解动力学研究的新动向

界面现象使物质在结晶过程中出现了临界现象.但最近的研究指出在物质溶解过程中,在表面能量的控制下也存在着临界现象以及尺寸效应.实验发现,当晶体自身小到一 定的程度时(通常在纳米尺度上并和临界蚀坑的大小相近),在溶解过程中其速度会自发降 低,反应被抑制乃至停止.尽管在热力学上表面能的因素可以赋予小颗粒晶体较大的溶解度 ,但表面能却也能通过对临界条件的控制而使这些微粒在动力学上不被溶解.这个发现不仅 解决了纳米颗粒在水溶液中稳定性的问题,而且还从动力学的角度解释了生物矿物选择纳米 尺度作为其基本构成单元的原因.由于表面能和晶体生长/溶解的动力学有着密切的关系, 我们可以通过对表面能的调节来修改它们的动力学速度和晶体的形貌.反过来,也可以用动力学的方法来测定表面能及表面吸附/脱附常数等.相对于常规的界面研究手段,通过生 长和溶解动力学途径所得的数据有着很好的可靠性及重复性.我们认为,晶体生长和溶解的 动力学和表面能的研究相结合,不仅为界面研究提供了新的思路和方法,而且也会推动晶体生长和材料科学的发展.