Improved optical photoluminescence by charge compensation in the phosphor system CaMoO4: Eu3+

It has been found that charge compensated CaMoO4:Eu3+ phosphors show greatly enhanced red emission under 393 and 467 nm-excitation, compared with CaMoO4:Eu3+ without charge compensation. Two approaches to charge compensation, (a) 2Ca(2+) -> EU3+ + M+, where M+ is a monovalent cation like Li+, Na+ and K+ acting as a charge compensator; (b) 3Ca(2+) -> 2EU(3+) + vacancy, are investigated. The influence of sintering temperature and Eu3+ concentration on the luminescent property of phosphor samples is also discussed.

Motion of integrated CdS nanoparticles by phase separation of block copolymer brushes

A new method of reversibly moving US nanoparticles in the perpendicular direction was developed on the basis of the phase separation of block copolymer brushes. Polystyrene-b-(poly(methyl methaerylate)-co-poly(cadmium dimethacrylate)) (PS-b-(PMMA-co-PCdMA)) brushes were grafted from the silicon wafer by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). By exposing the polymer brushes to H2S gas, PS-b-(PMNlA-co-PCdNlA) brushes were converted to polystyrene-b-(poly(methyl methacrylate) -co-poly(methacrylic acid)(CdS)) (PS-b-(PMMA-co-PMAA(CdS))) brushes, in which US nanoparticles were chemically bonded by the carboxylic groups of PMAA segment. Alternating treatment of the PS-b-(PMMA-co-PMAA(CdS)) brushes by selective solvents for the outer block (a mixed solvent of acetone and ethanol) and the inner PS block (toluene) induced perpendicular phase separation of polymer brushes, which resulted in the reversible lifting and lowering of US nanoparticles in the perpendicular direction. The extent of movement can be adjusted by the relative thickness of two blocks of the polymer brushes.

Enthalpy/entropy compensation: Influence of DNA flanking sequence on the binding of 7-amino actinomycin D to its primary binding site in short DNA duplexes

The effect of the context of the flanking sequence on ligand binding to DNA oligonucleotides that contain consensus binding sites was investigated for the binding of the intercalator 7-amino actinomycin D. Seven self-complementary DNA oligomers each containing a centrally located primary binding site, 5'-A-G-C-T-3', flanked on either side by the sequences (AT)(n) or (AA)(n) (with n = 2, 3, 4) and AA(AT)(2), were studied. For different flanking sequences, (AA)(n)-series or (AT)(n)-series, differential fluorescence enhancements of the ligand due to binding were observed. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the flanking sequences not only affected DNA stability and secondary structure but also modulated ligand binding to the primary binding site. The magnitude of the ligand binding affinity to the primary site was inversely related to the sequence dependent stability. The enthalpy of ligand binding was directly measured by isothermal titration calorimetry, and this made it possible to parse the binding free energy into its energetic and entropic terms.

Optical spectroscopy properties and charge compensation of BaLiF3 doped with Ce3+

The excitation and emission spectra of the BaLiF3:Ce3+ phosphors synthesized through solid state reaction have been measured. By investigating the properties of the excitation spectra we point out that the variation in the excitation spectra with the amount of CeF3 dopant results from the different patterns of charge compensation in the matrices. The vacancies of Li+ ions are the favorable charge compensation pattern at low concentration of CeF3 doped, but interstitial F- ions are the major charge compensation pattern when the concentration of CeF3 doped goes beyond a certain value. (C) 2000 Academic Press

Compensation effect of polyimide thin films on normally white twisted nematic liquid crystal displays

The disadvantages of Normally White Twisted Nematic Liquid Crystal Display (NW-TN-LCD) were discussed. The reason that the negative birefringent polyimide thin films were used to compensate NW-TN-LCD to decrease off-axis leakage, improve contrast ratios and enlarge viewing angles was explained in this paper. A certain polyimide thin film was taken as an example to show compensation effect on NW-TN-LCD.

The relation between molecular motion and ion conductivity on a new comblike polymer

A new amorphous comblike polymer(CBP) based on methylvinyl ether/maleic anhydride alternating copolymer backbone and on oligooxyethylene side chain was synthesized The dynamic mechanical properties of CBP-Li salt complexes showed that there were two glass transitions. There are two peaks in the plot of the ionic conductivity vs. Li salt concentration. The plot of Log sigma against 1/(T-To) shows an unusual dual VTF behavior when using sidechain glass transition temperature (T-beta) as To.

NMR Spectra of polyimides: Interpretation and local chain motion study

Three kinds of high-performance polyimides 1 (poly(ketone-imide) PKI), 2 (poly(ether-imide) PEI) and 3 (poly(oxy-imide) POI) were studied using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The NMR spectra of the polyimides were assigned according to the comprehensive consideration of the substitution effect of different substituting groups, viz. distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer (DEPT), no nuclear Overhauser effect (NNE), analysis of relaxation time, and two-dimensional correlated spectroscopy (COSY) techniques. The structural units of these three polyimides were determined. Carbon-13 and proton relaxation times for PEI and PKI were interpreted in terms of segmental motion characterized by the sharp cutoff model of Jones and Stockmayer (JS model) and anisotropic group rotation such as phenyl group rotation and methyl group rotation. Correlation times for the main-chain motion are in the tens of picosecond range which indicates the high flexibility of polyimide chains. Correlation times for phenyl group and methyl group rotations are more than 1 order of magnitude lower and approximately 1 order of magnitude higher than that of the main chain, respectively.

MISCIBILITY, MICROSTRUCTURE, AND DYNAMICS OF BLENDS CONTAINING BLOCK-COPOLYMER .3. MOLECULAR-MOTION IN HOMOPOLYSTYRENE AND POLYSTYRENE 4-ARM STYRENE-BUTADIENE STAR BLOCK-COPOLYMER BLENDS

The proton spin-spin relaxation times (T-2(H)) at different temperatures (from 160 to 390 K) have been determined for polystyrene (PS) and four-arm star styrene-butadiene block copolymer (SB-4A) and its blends with PS of different molecular weights (M(PS)

CHARGE COMPENSATION AND LUMINOUS CENTERS IN CAF2-CE3+

We synthesize some powder phosphors of CaF2:Ce3+ under different reaction conditions, find three luminous centres, and demonstrate that each luminous centre is formed with different charge compensation procedures.

CHARGE COMPENSATION AND VALENCY STABILITY OF EU(II)-DOPED KMGF3 CRYSTAL

The spectrochemistry of Eu2+-doped perovskite KMgF3 was examined and discussed. Eu2+ can replace some of the K+ in the KMgF3 crystal, and simultaneously the corresponding cation hole can be compensated with the F- or O2- in the matrix. The emission intensity of Eu2+ due to the f --> f transition increased when Na+, Rb+ or F- was doped in KMgF3:Eu2+. Two mechanisms of charge compensation were proposed. No obvious valence change of Eu2+ occurred in KMgF3:Eu2+ after calcinating at high temperature, e.g. 900-degrees-C. It was found that the valence stability of Eu2+ improved after incorporation into the matrix.

A unified criterion for initiation of sediment motion and inception of sheet flow under water waves

A unified criterion is developed for initiation of non-cohesive sediment motion and inception of sheet flow under water waves over a horizontal bed of sediment based on presently available experimental data. The unified threshold criterion is of the single form, U-o = 2 pi C[1 + 5(T-R/T)(2)](-1/4), where U-o is the onset velocity of sediment motion or sheet flow, T is wave period, and C and T-R are the coefficients. It is found that for a given sediment, U-o initially increases sharply with wave period, then gradually approaches the maximum onset velocity U-o = 2 pi C and becomes independent of T when T is larger. The unified criterion can also be extended to define sediment initial motion and sheet flow under irregular waves provided the significant wave orbital velocity and period of irregular waves are introduced in this unified criterion.

Numerical wave flume study on wave motion around submerged plates

Nonlinear interaction between surface waves and a submerged horizontal plate is investigated in the absorbed numerical wave flume developed based on the volume of fluid (VOF) method. The governing equations of the numerical model are the continuity equation and the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with the k-epsilon turbulence equations. Incident waves are generated by an absorbing wave-maker that eliminates the waves reflected from structures. Results are obtained for a range of parameters, with consideration of the condition under which the reflection coefficient becomes maximal and the transmission coefficient minimal. Wave breaking over the plate, vortex shedding downwave, and pulsating flow below the plate are observed. Time-averaged hydrodynamic force reveals a negative drift force. All these characteristics provide a reference for construction of submerged plate breakwaters.