Nonlinear optical properties of (B3O7)(5-) and (B3O6)(3-) groups

From the chemical bond viewpoint, LiB3O5 (LBO) crystal has been studied by using the bond valence theory of complex crystals. Chemical bond parameters and linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of each type of constituent chemical bonds are quantitatively determined. Because of the different crystal structure characteristics of LBO from those of beta-BaB2O4 (BBO), the two anionic groups, (B3O7)(5-) in LBO and (B3O6)(3-) in BBO, play different roles in contributions to their own total NLO tensor coefficients of LBO and BBO, respectively. By comparison, we find that planar (B3O6)(3-) groups are the ideal structure model, leading to little cancellation of contributions of each kind of bond in these groups, and this gives us a useful guide to design new NLO materials in the future.

Chemical bond analysis of nonlinearity of urea crystal

A novel and quantitative study on structure-property relationships has been carried out in urea crystal, based on the dielectric theory of complex crystals and the modified Levine bond charge model, mainly from the chemical bond viewpoint. For the first time, it was treated like this, and the bond parameters and linear and nonlinear characteristics of constituent chemical bonds were presented quantitatively. The theoretical result agrees satisfactorily with the experimental datum and can reasonably explain the nonlinear origin of urea crystal, that is, the C-N bond in the conjugated system of bonds O double left arrow C<--N-H. At the same time, the novel method should be a useful tool toward the future development of the search for new nonlinear optical (NLO) materials in the organic crystal field.

In situ scanning tunneling microscopy studies of nanometer size palladium particles on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

A special electrodeposition process of palladium was studied by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A kind of palladium(IV) complex was attached to the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode surface by electro-oxidation of palladium(II) complex first, and was then reduced to palladium particles. The surface complexes and particles of palladium were both characterized by in situ STM and XPS. The Pd particles are in the nanometer range of size and exhibit electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of hydrazine and hydroxylamine.

The origin of nonlinearities in K[B5O6(OH)(4)]center dot 2H(2)O crystal

In this paper the origin of nonlinearities of the K[B5O6(OH)(4)].2H(2)O(KB5) crystal has been investigated from a comprehensive view-point by using the bond-valence theory of complex crystals. The results of the calculation (d(31) = -1.18 X 10(-10) esu, d(32) = 0.20 X 10(-10) and d(33) = -1.03 X 10(-9) esu) are in good agreement with experimental data. For the first time we pointed out that its nonlinearities come from the H(2)-O(2) bonds and the [B5O6(OH)(4)](-) group, and estimated its larger nonlinear optical (NLO) coefficient d(33).

Determination of hydroxylamine by capillary electrophoresis electrochemical detection with a palladium-particle modified carbon fiber microdisk array electrode

A highly dispersed ultramicro palladium-particle modified carbon fiber microdisk array electrode (Pd-CFE) was employed for capillary electrophoresis-electrochemical (CEEC) detection of hydroxylamine (HA). The Pd particles obtained were in the nanometer scale, had a high electrocatalytic activity towards HA and exhibited good reproducibility and stability. A linear relationship between the current and the analyte concentration was found between 5 x 10(-6) and 1 x 10(-3) mol/l of HA with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The detection limit was 5 x 10(-8) mol/l. The applicability of the method for the determination of HA in river water and waste water was investigated.

SYNTHESIS, SOLUTION DYNAMICS AND X-RAY CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF NEODYMIUM-YLIDE COMPLEXES, [(C(5)H(4)R)(3)NDCH2P(ME)PH(2)] (R=H, BU(T))

The interaction of [(C(5)H(4)R)(2)NdCl.2LiCl] (R = H, Bu(t)) with one equivalent of Li[(CH2)(CH2)PPh(2)] in refluxing tetrahydrofuran gave the purplish-blue complex [(C(5)H(4)R)(3)NdCH2P(Me)Ph(2)] in 50% yield. The compounds have been fully characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction methods. Variable temperature P-31{H-1} NMR spectroscopy indicated the existence of the following equilibrium: [(C(5)H(4)R)(3)NdCH2P(Me)Ph(2)] + THF reversible arrow (C(5)H(4)R)(3)Nd(THF) + CH2=P(Me)Ph(2). At room temperature, the exchange between the coordinated and free ylide ligand is slow on the NMR time scale.

SYNTHESES OF METHYLCYCLOPENTADIENYL DERIVATIVES OF LANTHANIDES (LN = LA-ND) AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURES OF [(THF)2LI(MU-CL)2]2[MECPND(THF)] AND [LI(DME)3][MECPLA(NPH2)3]

The reaction of LnCl3.2LiCl with 1 equiv of MeCpNa in THF gives the complexes [(THF)2Li(mu-Cl)2]2[MeCpLn(THF)] (Ln = Nd (1), La (2)) in good yield. These precursors react further with 2 equiv of LiNPh2 to produce the new complexes [Li(DME)3][MeCpLn(NPh2)3] (Ln = La (3), Pr (4), Nd (5)). They have been characterized by elemental analyses and IR and NMR spectra, as well as by structural analyses of 1 and 3. The chloride 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (No. 14) with a = 12.130 (5) angstrom, b = 17.343 (5) angstrom, c = 17.016 (5) angstrom, beta = 108.54 (3)-degrees, V = 3393.87 angstrom3, Z = 4, and D(c) = 1.45 g/cm3. Least-squares refinement led to a final R value of 0.051 (I greater-than-or-equal-to 3-sigma(I(o))) for 2004 independent reflections. Complex 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (No. 14) with a = 18.335 (6) angstrom, b = 16.576 (5) angstrom, c = 17.461 (6) angstrom, beta = 96.04 (3)-degrees, V = 5277.17 angstrom3, D(c) = 1.26 g/cm3, Z = 4, and R = 0.057 (I greater-than-or-equal-to 2.5-sigma(I(o))) for 3378 reflections. The structure of 3 consists of discrete ion pairs [Li(DME)3]+ and [MeCpLa(NPh2)3]- with average La-N and La-C(ring) distances of 2.459 (8) and 2.84 (1) angstrom, respectively.

SYNTHESIS AND CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF THE TRIS(CYCLOPENTADIENYL)PHENYL COMPLEX OF NEODYMIUM, (LI-BULLET-3DME)[(ETA-5-C5H5)3NDC6H5]

(Li.3DME)[eta(5)-C5H5)3NdC6H5], 1 was synthesized by the reaction of NdCl3.2LiCl, 2 equivalents of cyclopentadienylsodium and one equivalent of phenyllithium in THF at -78-degrees-C, and crystallized from THF and DME. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction method at -80-degrees-C. The crystal of 1 is triclinic, space group P1BAR with a = 15.752(6), b = 16.232(3), c = 23.038(7) angstrom, alpha = 108.81(2), beta = 93.31(3), gamma = 108.38(2)-degrees, Z = 6 and D = 1.33 g/cm3. Least-squares refinement (5732 observed reflections) led to a final R of 0.053. The complex consists of disconnected ion pairs of (Li.3DME)+ and [(eta(5)-C5H5)3NdC6H5]-. The neodymium atom was connected to three eta(5)-bonded cyclopentadienyls and one sigma-bonded phenyl in a distorted tetrahedral arrangement with Nd-C(sigma-) 2.593(17), 2.613(13) and 2.601(13) angstrom.

Accommodating curvature in a highly ordered functionalized metal oxide nanofiber: synthesis, characterization and multi-scale modeling of layered nanosheets

A key element in the rational design of hybrid organic-inorganic nanostructures, is control of surfactant packing and adsorption onto the inorganic phase in crystal growth and assembly. In layered single crystal nanofibers and bilayered 2D nanosheets of vanadium oxide, we show how the chemisorption of preferred densities of surfactant molecules can direct formation of ordered, curved layers. The atom-scale features of the structures are described using molecular dynamics simulations that quantify surfactant packing effects and confirm the preference for a density of 5 dodecanethiol molecules per 8 vanadium attachment sites in the synthesised structures. This assembly maintains a remarkably well ordered interlayer spacing, even when curved. The assemblies of interdigitated organic bilayers on V2O5 are shown to be sufficiently flexible to tolerate curvature while maintaining a constant interlayer distance without rupture, delamination or cleavage. The accommodation of curvature and invariant structural integrity points to a beneficial role for oxide-directed organic film packing effects in layered architectures such as stacked nanofibers and hybrid 2D nanosheet systems.

Integrated spot size converters for InP based photonic systems

The ever increasing demand for broadband communications requires sophisticated devices. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are an approach that fulfills those requirements. PICs enable the integration of different optical modules on a single chip. Low loss fiber coupling and simplified packaging are key issues in keeping the price of PICs at a low level. Integrated spot size converters (SSC) offer an opportunity to accomplish this. Design, fabrication and characterization of SSCs based on an asymmetric twin waveguide (ATG) at a wavelength of 1.55 μm are the main elements of this dissertation. It is theoretically and experimentally shown that a passive ATG facilitates a polarization filter mechanism. A reproducible InP process guideline is developed that achieves vertical waveguides with smooth sidewalls. Birefringence and resonant coupling are used in an ATG to enable a polarization filtering and splitting mechanism. For the first time such a filter is experimentally shown. At a wavelength of 1610 nm a power extinction ratio of (1.6 ± 0.2) dB was measured for the TE- polarization in a single approximately 372 μm long TM- pass polarizer. A TE-pass polarizer with a similar length was demonstrated with a TM/TE-power extinction ratio of (0.7 ± 0.2) dB at 1610 nm. The refractive indices of two different InGaAsP compositions, required for a SSC, are measured by the reflection spectroscopy technique. A SSC layout for dielectric-free fabricated compact photodetectors is adjusted to those index values. The development and the results of the final fabrication procedure for the ATG concept are outlined. The etch rate, sidewall roughness and selectivity of a Cl2/CH4/H2 based inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etch are investigated by a design of experiment approach. The passivation effect of CH4 is illustrated for the first time. Conditions are determined for etching smooth and vertical sidewalls up to a depth of 5 μm.