Pyrosol preparation and structural characterization of SnO2 thin films

Polycrystalline tin oxide thin films were prepared from ethanol solution of SnCl2.H2O (concentrations: 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mol/dm(3)) at different substrate temperatures ranging from 300 to 450 degreesC. The kinetic deposition processes were studied in terms of various process parameters. The crystal phases, crystalline structure, grain size and surface morphology are revealed in accordance to X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Texture coefficients (TCs) for (110), (2 0 0), (2 11) and (3 0 1) reflections of the tetragonal SnO2 were calculated. Structural characteristics of deposited films with respect to varying precursor chemistry and substrate temperature are presented and discussed. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Structural characteristics of silica sonogels prepared with additions of isopropyl alcohol

Wet silica gels with similar to 1.4 x 10(-3) mol SiO2/cm(3) and similar to 92 vol% liquid phase were obtained from sonohydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with different additions of isopropyl alcohol ( IPA). The IPA/TEOS molar ratio R was changed from 0 to 4. Aerogels were obtained by supercritical CO2 extraction. The samples were analyzed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and nitrogen adsorption. The wet gels exhibit mass fractal structure with fractal dimension increasing from D similar to 2.10 to D similar to 2.22, characteristic length xi decreasing from similar to 9.5 to similar to 6.9 nm, as R increases from 0 to 4, and an estimated characteristic length for the primary silica particles lower than similar to 0.3 nm. The supercritical process apparently eliminates a fraction of the porosity, increasing the mass fractal dimension and shortening the fractality domain in the mesopore region. The fundamental role of isopropyl alcohol on the structure of the resulting aerogels is to decrease the porosity and the pore mean size as R changes from pure TEOS to R = 4. A secondary structure appearing in the micropore region of the aerogels can be described as a mass/surface fractal structure, with correlated mass fractal dimension D-m similar to 2.7 and surface fractal dimension D-s similar to 2.3, as inferred from SAXS and nitrogen adsorption data.

Thermal and structural investigation of SnO2/Sb2O3 obtained by the polymeric precursor method

SnO2-based materials are used as sensors, catalysts and in electro-optical devices. This work aims to synthesize and characterize the SnO2/Sb2O3-based inorganic pigments, obtained by the polymeric precursor method, also known as Pechini method (based on the metallic citrate polymerization by means of ethylene glycol). The precursors were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). After characterization, the precursors were heat-treated at different temperatures and characterized by X-ray diffraction. According to the TG/DTA curves basically two-step mass loss process was observed: the first one is related to the dehydration of the system; and the second one is representative to the combustion of the organic matter. Increase of the heat treatment temperature from 500 to 600 degrees C and 700 degrees C resulted higher crystallinity of the formed product.

Synthesis and structural studies of (1,10-phenanthroline)(thiocyanate-N)-(triphenylphosphine)copper(I)

The compound (1,10-phenanthroline)(thiocyanate-N)(triphenylphosphine)copper(I), was synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. It is monomeric with the thiocyanate acting as a N-donor ligand. The copper atom shows a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry.

Structural study of composites of aerosil fumed silica and tetraethoxysilane-derived sonogels

Composites of aerosil fumed silica and tetraethoxysilane-derived sonogel were prepared by changing the aerosil content between 0 and 30wt% with respect to the silica content in the original tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). The structural characteristics were studied by density and Vickers microhardness measurements and analyzed by means of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The structure of the composite aerosil/TEOS-derived sonogel can be described as inclusions of the aerosil particles embedded in the matrix of the TEOS-derived sonogel, forming an aerosil/matrix interfacial surface inside the composite. The weakening of the bonding of aerosil/matrix interface, as suggested by the reported decrease in microhardness, increases the fracture toughness of the composite. The additive effect of the aerosil particles on the structure of the sonogel accounts for the increase of the bulk density and reduction of the specific surface of the composite. Some internal structure associated with the microclusters making up the sonogels is apparent from systematic deviations from Porod's law found in the system with small aerosil contents. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and structural characterization of a new polymeric zinc(II) complex with thiophene-2-carboxylic acid

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of Ca concentration on the electric, morphological, and structural properties of (Pb,Ca)TiO3 thin films

Pb1-xCaxTiO3 (0.10less than or equal toxless than or equal to0.40) thin films on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrates were prepared by the soft solution process and their characteristics were investigated as a function of the calcium content (x). The structural modifications in the films were studied using x-ray diffraction and micro-Raman scattering techniques. Lattice parameters calculated from x-ray data indicate a decrease in lattice tetragonality with the increasing content of calcium in these films. Raman spectra exhibited characteristic features of pure PbTiO3 thin films. Variations in the phonon mode wave numbers, especially those of lower wave numbers, of Pb1-xCaxTiO3 thin films as a function of the composition corroborate the decrease in tetragonality caused by the calcium doping. As the Ca content (x) increases from 0.10 to 0.40, the dielectric constant at room temperature abnormally increased at 1 kHz from 148 to 430. Also calcium substitution decreased the remanent polarization and coercive field from 28.0 to 5.3 muC/cm(2) and 124 to 58 kV/cm, respectively. These properties can be explained in terms of variations of phase transition (ferroelectric-paraelectric), resulting from the substitution the lead site of PbTiO(3)for the nonvolatile calcium. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.

Structural behaviour of three-pile caps subjected to axial compressive loading

This work presents a comparative analysis about the behaviour of pile caps supported by 3 piles subjected to axial loading. Piles with 20 cm and 30 cm diameters were analysed. The main reinforcement was maintained in all the specimens, however, the arrangement of the secondary reinforcement varied. The main reinforcement consisted of steel bars connecting the piles. The secondary reinforcement was made up of: (a) bars going through the piles and through the projection of the column, (b) bars forming a network, and (c) vertical and horizontal stirrups. The main objective was the observation of the pile cap behaviour regarding the cracks and the modes of rupture. The real scale specimens were subjected to experimental tests until failure by rupture. Instruments were placed with the aim to obtain the displacement of the bases, the strains in the main and secondary reinforcement bars, in the compression struts, in the lower and upper nodal zones and in the sides of the caps. None of the caps reached failure by rupture with a load less than 1.12 times the theoretical load. The specimens ruptured due to the cracking of the compression strut and/or the yielding of the reinforcement bars in one direction.

Electronic and structural properties of the (10(1)over-bar0) and (11(2)over-bar0) ZnO surfaces

The structural and electronic properties of ZnO (10 (1) over bar0) and (11 (2) over bar0) surfaces were investigated by means of density functional theory applied to periodic calculations at B3LYP level. The stability and relaxation effects for both surfaces were analyzed. The electronic and energy band properties were discussed on the basis of band structure as well as density of states. There is a significant relaxation in the (10 (1) over bar0) as compared to the (11 (2) over bar0) terminated surfaces. The calculated direct gap is 3.09, 2.85, and 3.09 eV for bulk, (10 (1) over bar0), and (11 (2) over bar0) surfaces, respectively. The band structures for both surfaces are very similar.

Structural evolution of Eu-doped hydroxyapatite nanorods monitored by photoluminescence emission

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Functional and structural analysis of two fibrinogen-activating enzymes isolated from the venoms of Crotalus durissus terrificus and Crotalus durissus collilineatus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermal and structural characterization of SrTi(1-x)Nd(x)O(3)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structural characterization of the cell wall D-glucans isolated from the mycelium of Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05

Three D-glucans were isolated from the mycelium of the fungus Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 by sequential extraction with hot-water and hot aqueous KOH (2% w/v) followed by ethanol precipitation. Following their purification by gel permeation chrornatography on Sepharose CL-4B, the structural characteristics of the D-glucans were determined by FT-IR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy and, after methylation, by GC-MS. The hot-water extract produced a fraction designated Q(1A) that was a beta-(1 -> 6)-D-glucan with the following structure:[GRAPHICS]The alkaline extract, when subjected to repeated freeze-thawing, yielded two fractions: KIP (insoluble) that comprised a beta-(1 -> 3)-D-glucan with beta-D-glucose branches at C-6 with the structure:[GRAPHICS]and K1SA (soluble) consisting of a backbone chain of alpha-(1 -> 4)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues substituted at O-6 with alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues:[GRAPHICS](c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.