Single-mode behaviour judgment of optical waveguides by imaginary-distance beam propagation method under perfectly matched layer boundary condition

Imaginary-distance beam propagation method under the perfectly matched layer boundary condition is applied to judge single-mode behaviour of optical waveguides, for the first time to our knowledge. A new kind of silicon-on-insulator-based rib structures with half-circle cross-section is presented. The single-mode behaviour of this kind of waveguide with radius 2mum is investigated by this method. It is single-mode when the slab height is not smaller than the radius.

Neutron irradiation-infrared based measurement method for interstitial oxygen in heavily boron-doped silicon

A novel method, based on an infrared absorption and neutron irradiation technique, has been developed for the determination of interstitial oxygen in heavily boron-doped silicon. The new procedure utilizes fast neutron irradiated silicon wafer specimens. On fast neutron irradiation, the free carriers of high concentration in silicon can be trapped by the irradiated defects and the resistivity increased. The resulting calibration curve for the measurement of interstitial oxygen in boron-doped silicon has been established on the basis of the annealing behaviour of irradiated boron-doped CZ silicon.

Morphology observation of carbon deposition by CH4 decomposition over Ni-based catalysts

We found a novel morphology variation of carbon deposition derived from CH4 decomposition over NI-based catalysts. By altering the chemical composition and particle size of Ni-based catalysts, carbon filaments, nanofibres and nanotubes were observed over conventional Ni/y-Al2O3, Ni-Co/gamma-Al2O3 and nanoscale Ni-Co/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts, respectively. The simple introduction of Co into a conventional Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst can vary the carbon deposition from amorphous filamentous carbon to ordered carbon fibres. Moreover, carbon nanotubes with uniform diameter distribution can be obtained over nanosized Ni-Co/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst particles. In addition, the oxidation behaviour of the different deposited carbon was studied by using a temperature-programmed oxidation technique. This work provides a simple strategy to control over the size and morphology of the carbon deposition from catalytic decomposition of CH4.

High-sensitivity determination of lead and cadmium based on the Nafion-graphene composite film

Graphene nanosheets, dispersed in Nafion (Nafion-G) solution, were used in combination with in situ plated bismuth film electrode for fabricating the enhanced electrochemical sensing platform to determine the lead (Pb2+) and cadmium (Cd2+) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The electrochemical properties of the composite film modified glassy carbon electrode were investigated. It is found that the prepared Nafion-G composite film not only exhibited improved sensitivity for the metal ion detections, but also alleviated the interferences due to the synergistic effect of graphene nanosheets and Nafion. The linear calibration curves ranged from 0.5 mu g L-1 to 50 mu g L-1 for Pb2+ and 1.5 mu g L-1 to 30 mu g L-1 for Cd2+. respectively. The detection limits (S/N = 3) were estimated to be around 0.02 mu g L-1 for Pb2+ and Cd2+. The practical application of the proposed method was verified in the water sample determination.

Synthesis and characterization of two novel [Ru(bpy)(2)(phen)](2+)-based electrochemiluminescent labels

Two novel electrochemiluminescent labels, bis(2,2'-bipyridine)[5-(3-carboxylic acid-propionamido)1,10-phenanthroline]ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate dihydrate and bis(2,2'-bipyridine)[5-(4-carboxylic acid-butanamido)-1,10-phenanthroline]ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate dihydrate, were synthesized and confirmed by IRelemental analysis, and H-1-NMR spectra were completely assigned using the (HH)-H-1-H-1 COSY technique. Cyclic voltammograms with different scan rates showed quasireversible electrochemical behaviour of the two Ru (II) complex labels in MeCN solution. Electronic absorption, photoluminescence and electrochemiluminescence of Ru(II) complexes were also characterized. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Synthesis and thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour of novel poly(aryl ether ketone)s with a lateral methoxy group

Novel poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing a lateral methoxy group were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reactions of 4,4'-biphenol and methoxyhydroquinone with 1,4-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene in a sulfolane solvent in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate. Their thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were characterized by a variety of experimental techniques, e.g. differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy and temperature-dependent FTIR. Thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour was observed in the copolymers containing 30-80 mol-% mexthoxyhydroquinone. Both melting (T-m) and isotropization (T-i) transitions appeared in the DSC curves. The polarized light microscopy study of the liquid crystalline copolymers suggested their ordered smectic structures. As expected, the copolymers had lower melting transitions than the biphenol-based homopoly(aryl ether ketone)s because of the copolymerization effect of the crystal-disrupting monomer methoxyhydroquinone.

Study of the effect of hydrogen bonding on the phase behaviour of p-nitro azobenzene derivatives with hydrophilic tails

The infrared spect ra of N-n-(4-nitrophenyl)azophenyloxyalkyldiethanolamines (Cn) are examined in the range of 4000-400 cm(-1) at different temperatures and the assignment of the fundamental vibrations given. Based on (1) the localization of the broad absorption band at 3456 cm(-1), and (2) attribution of the associated OH bands centred at 1410-1390, 1100, and 650-634 cm(-1) to, respectively delta OH deformation, nu C-O stretching and gamma OH out-of-plane bending, intermolecular hydrogen bonding between OH groups in the crystalline, liquid crystalline and isotropic states is proposed. By considering the results of FTIR, WAXD and DSC measurements, the molecular arrangement of C10 in its smectic A phase as consisting of hydrogen bonding and strong interaction between dipolar groups (NO,) is proposed. This may explain the high stability and high orientational ordering property of Cn compounds in the liquid crystalline state compared with that of n-bromo-1-[4-(4-nitrophenyl)azophenyl]oxyalkanes (Bn).

The synthesis and thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour of novel main chain poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing a lateral phenyl group

Novel main chain poly(aryl ether ketone)s containing a lateral phenyl group were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution reactions of 4,4'-biphenol and phenylhydroquinone with either 4,4'-difluorobenzophenone or 1,4-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)benzene and their thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were characterized by a variety of experimental techniques. Thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviour was observed in the copolymers containing 50 and 70mol% biphenol. Melting (T-m) and isotropization (T-i) transitions both appeared on the DSC thermograms. A banded texture was formed after shearing the sample in the liquid crystalline nematic state. As expected, each of the copolymers had a relatively lower melting transition than the biphenol-based homopoly(aryl ether ketone)s because of the copolymerization effect of the crystal-disrupting monomer phenylhydroquinone.

Synthesis, characterization and ionic conductivity of solid polymer electrolytes based on modified alternating maleic anhydride copolymer with oligo(oxyethylene) side chains

Three comb polymers (CP) based on modified alternating methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymer with oligo-oxyethylene side chains of the type -O(CH2CH2O)(n)CH3 were synthesized and characterized, and the ionic conductivity of CP/salt complexes is reported. The conductivity of these complexes was about 10(-5)-10(-6) S cm(-1) at room temperature. The conductivity, which displayed non-Arrhenius behaviour, was analysed using the Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher equation. The conductivity maxima appear at lower salt concentration, when CP has longer side chains. Infrared (i.r.) was used to study the cation-polymer interaction. I.r. results also indicate that the ester in CP might decompose at 140 degrees C and reproduce the maleic anhydride ring. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

IONIC-CONDUCTION OF A NOVEL COMB POLYMER ELECTROLYTE BASED ON MALEIC-ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER WITH OLIGO-OXYETHYLENE SIDE-CHAINS

A comb-shaped polymer (BM350) with oligo-oxyethylene side chains of the type -O(CH2CH2O)(7)CH3 was prepared from methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride copolymer. Homogeneous amorphous polymer electrolyte complexes were made from the comb polymer and LICF(3)SO(3) by solvent casting from acetone, and their conductivities were measured as a function of temperature and salt concentration. Maximum conductivity close to 5.08 X 10(-5) Scm(-1) was obtained at room temperature and at a [Li]/[EO] ratio of about 0.12. The conductivity which displayed non-Arrhenius behaviour was analyzed using the Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher equation and interpreted on the basis of the configurational entropy model. The results of mid-IR showed that the coordination of Li+ to side chains made the C-O-C band become broader and shift slightly. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the oxygen atoms in the two situations could coordinate to Li+ and this coordination resulted in the reduction of the electron orbit binding energy of F and S.

Determination of alcohols by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection after pre-column derivatisation with carbazole-9-N-acetic acid and chromatographic behaviour of alcoholic derivatives

Alcohols were derivatised to their carbazole-9-N-acetic acid (CRA) esters with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC . HCl) as the dehydrating agent. Studies on derivatisation conditions indicated that the coupling reaction proceeded rapidly and smoothly in the presence of a base catalyst in acetonitrile to give the corresponding sensitively fluorescent derivatives. The retention behaviour of alcohol derivatives was investigated by varying mobile phase compositions (ACN-water and MeOH-water). The parameters from the equation log k'=A-BX were evaluated by retention data of derivatives using an isocratic elution with different mobile phases. The results indicated that the parameters derived allowed computation of retention factors in good agreement with experiments. At the same time, a general equation was derived that makes possible predictions of partition coefficient in binary mobile phases with different proportions of organic solvent to water based on some simple regression analysis. The LC separation for the derivatised alcohols containing higher carbon alcohols showed good reproducibility on a reversed-phase C-18 column with gradient elution. The detection limits (excitation at 335 nm, emission at 360 nm) for derivatised alcohols (signal-to-noise ratio=3:1) were in the range of 0.1-0.4 pg per injection. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.