Effects of helium and oxygen common implantation in silicon wafer

Defect engineering for SiO2] precipitation is investigated using He-ion implantation as the first stage of separation by implanted oxygen (STMOX). Cavities are created in Si by implantation with helium ions. After thermal annealing at different temperatures, the sample is implanted with 120keV 8.0 x 10(16) cm(-2) O ions. The O ion energy is chosen such that the peak of the concentration distribution is centred at the cavity band. For comparison, another sample is implanted with O ions alone. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM), Fourier transform infrared absorbance spectrometry (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements are used to investigate the samples. The results show that a narrow nano-cavity layer is found to be excellent nucleation sites that effectively assisted SiO2 formation and released crystal lattice strain associated with silicon oxidation.

Color center formation in alpha-Al2O3 induced by high energy heavy ions

Single crystals of alpha-alumina were irradiated at room temperature with 1.157 (GeVFe)-Fe-56, 1.755 (GeVXe)-Xe-136 and 2.636 (GeVU)-U-238 ions to fluences range from 8.7 x 10(9) to 6 x 10(12) ions/cm(2). Virgin and irradiated samples were investigated by ultraviolet visible absorption measurements. The investigation reveals the presence of various color centers (F, F+, F-2(2+), F-2(+) and F-2 centers) appearing in the irradiated samples. It is found that the ratio of peak absorbance of F-2 to F centers increases with the increase of the atomic numbers of the incident ions from Fe, Xe to U ions, so do the absorbance ratio of F-2(2+) to F+ centers and of large defect cluster to F centers, indicating that larger defect clusters are preferred to be produced under heavier ion irradiation. Largest color center production cross-section was found for the U ion irradiation. The number density of single anion vacancy scales better with the energy deposition through processes of nuclear stopping, indicating that the nuclear energy loss processes determines the production of F-type defects in heavy ion irradiated alpha-alumina.

The annealing behavior of Cu nanoparticles in Ar-ion implanted spinel

Magnesium aluminate spinel crystals (MgAl2O4 (1 1 0)) deposited with 30 nm Cu film on surface were implanted with 110 key Ar-ions to a fluence of 1.0 x 10(17) ions/cm(2) at 350 degrees C, and then annealed in vacuum condition at the temperature of 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 degrees C for 1 h, respectively. Ultraviolet-visible spectrometry (UV-VIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were adopted to analyze the specimens. After implantation, the appearance of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorbance peak in the UV-VIS spectrum indicated the formation of Cu nanoparticles, and the TEM results for 500 degrees C also confirmed the formation of Cu nanoparticles at near-surface region. In annealing process, The SPR absorbance intensity increased at 500 and 700 degrees C, decreased with a blue shift of the peak position at 600 and 800 degrees C, and the peak disappeared at 900 degrees C. The SPR absorbance intensity evolution with temperature was discussed combined with other measurement results (RBS, SEM and TEM). (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and optical properties of 6H-SiC helium-implanted at 600 K

Single crystals of 6H-SiC were implanted at 600 K with 100 key He ions to three successively fluences and subsequently annealed at different temperatures ranging from 873 to 1473 K in vacuum. The recovery of lattice damage was investigated by different techniques including Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in channeling geometry, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. All three techniques showed that the damage induced by helium ion implantation in the lattice is closely related to the fluence. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry/channeling data on high temperature implantations suggest that for a fluence of 3 x 10(16) He+/cm(2), extended defects are created by thermal annealing to 1473 K. Apart from a well-known intensity decrease of scattering peaks in Raman spectroscopy it was found that the absorbance peak in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy due to the stretching vibration of Si-C bond shifted to smaller wave numbers with increasing fluence, shifting back to larger wave numbers with increasing annealing temperature. These phenomena are attributed to different lattice damage behavior induced by the hot implantation process, in which simultaneous recovery was prevailing. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enhanced nucleation of Ag nanoparticles by vacancy-type defects in Ar-ions implanted spinel

Vacancy-type defects are introduced into magnesium aluminate spine] (MgAl2O4 (1 1 0)) by Ar-ions implantation, and then Ag-ions are implanted into the depth rich in vacancy-type defects. The ultraviolet-visible spectrometry (UV-VIS) and positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) are used to study the influence of vacancy-type defects on nucleation of Ag nanoparticles. After introduction of vacancy-type defects the pronounced increase of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorbance intensity indicates that defects enhance the nucleation of Ag nanoparticles. The PAS results reveal that vacancy-type defects provide pre-nucleating centers for Ag nanoparticles nucleation and growth. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characteristics of the human serum albumin-triazine chiral stationary phase

Human serum albumin (HSA) was successfully bonded to silica with s-triazine as activator. The coupling reaction by this method was rapid and effective. The triazine-activated silica is relatively stable and can be installed for at least 1 month without obvious loss of reactivity when stored below 30 degreesC, pH below 7. It was observed that the amount of bound HSA reached 120 mg/g silica calculated from the UV absorbance difference of the HSA solution. d,l-tryptophan was selected as the probe solute to characterize the properties of HSA bonded s-triazine chiral stationary phase, and separation factor of 9.4 was obtained for d,l-tryptophan. Furthermore, the amount of effective HSA on silica was measured by high-performance frontal analysis, and only 16.8 mg/g silica was responsible for the resolution of d,l-tryptophan. These results indicate that the amount of both the bound and effective HSA on silica with triazine as activator was much higher than those by the Schiff base coupling method. Different kinds of enantiomers were resolved successfully on the aminopropylsilica-bonded HSA s-triazine chiral stationary phase. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Quantitative evaluation of the interaction between pUC19DNA and ovalbumin by capillary zone electrophoresis

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used to study the interaction between pUC19DNA (pUC19) and ovalbumin (Ova). Samples containing pUC19 and Ova at various ratios were incubated at room temperature and were then separated by CZE with tris-acetate buffer at pH 7.2. Reduction in ultraviolet (UV) absorbance of pUC19 was due to the decrease of free pUC19 after binding to Ova. The binding constant of the interaction calculated from the Scatchard plot was (1.46+/-0.15) x 10(5) M-1. The use of polyacrylamide-coated capillary showed better effects than that of uncoated capillary. The results show that it is important to keep a constant ionic strength in the samples in order to obtain accurate quantitative data in binding assays by CZE.

Degradation products formed during UV-irradiation of humic waters

Natural humic lake water and aqueous solutions of humic substances were treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation (λ = 254 nm). The effects on the dissolved organic carbon content (DOC) and the absorbance at 254 nm (Abs254) and 460 nm (Abs460) were monitored and the identity and concentrations of gas chromatographable organic degradation products were determined. The DOC content and the (Abs254) of the humic solutions decreased continuously with increasing UV-dose. Several aromatic and aliphatic degradation products were identified and roughly quantified The concentrations of aromatic hydroxy carboxylic acids and hydroxy aldehydes increased when relatively low UV-doses were used, but declined following further irradiation. The concentrations of aliphatic dibasic acids increased over the full range of UV-doses

Modeling the effect of ozone loss on photobleaching of chromophoric dissolved organic matter in the St. Lawrence estuary

Temporal trends in total ozone for the St. Lawrence estuary were estimated from ground-based measurements at the NOAA/CMDL station in Caribou, Maine. Linear regression analysis showed that from 1979 to 1999 total ozone has decreased by about 3.3% per decade on an annual basis and ≤6.2% per decade on a monthly basis relative to unperturbed (pre-CFC) levels. The influence of increased ultraviolet-B (280–320 nm) radiation associated with ozone depletion on water column photochemical processes was evaluated by modeling the photobleaching of chromophoric dissolved organic material (CDOM). Linear regression analysis showed small (<0.5% per decade), but statistically significant upward trends in maximum noontime photobleaching rates. Most notably, positive trends in relative rates for May, June, and July, when maximum absolute rates are expected, were predicted. A global model based on TOMS ozone data revealed increases in photobleaching of ≤3% per decade at high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. Radiation amplification factors for increases in photochemically weighted UV (280–400 nm) in response to ozone depletion were estimated at 0.1 and 0.08 for photobleaching of CDOM absorbance at 300 and 350 nm, respectively. Application of the laboratory-based model to conditions that more closely resembled those in situ were variable with both overestimation and underestimation of measured rates. The differences between modeled rates and observed rates under quasi-natural conditions were as large or larger than the predicted increases due to ozone depletion. These comparisons suggest that biological activity and mixing play an important, but as yet ill-defined, role in modifying photochemical processes.

Degradation of aquatic humic material by ultraviolet light

Natural humic water was treated with ultraviolet (UV) light and UV + hydrogen peroxide . The effects on the dissolved organic carbon content (DOC), the UV-absorbance at 254 nm (UV-abs.), the molecular size distribution, pH, and mutagenic activity were monitored, and the identity and concentrations of the most abundant gas chromatographable organic degradation products were determined. The DOC content and the UV-abs. of the water decreased substantially during treatment with. The decreases were dependent on the time of irradiation (UV dose) as well as on the H2O2 dose applied. The humus macromolecules were degraded to smaller fragments during irradiation. At higher UV doses, however, part of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) was found to precipitate, probably as a result of polymerization. Oxalic acid, acetic acid, malonic acid, and n-butanoic acid were the most abundant degradation products detected. These acids were found to account for up to 20% and 80% of the DOM in UV- and waters, respectively. No mutagenic activity was generated by the UV irradiation or the treatment. It is further concluded that the substantial mutagenic activity formed during chlorination of humic waters cannot be decreased by using UV irradiation as a pretreatment step.

Direct Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis of Hemoglobin in Lipid Film Incorporated with Room-Temperature Ionic Liquid

A facile phospholipid/room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) composite material based on dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim]PF6) was exploited as a new matrix for immobilizing protein. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were adopted to characterize this composite film. Hemoglobin (Hb) was chosen as a model protein to investigate the composite system. UV-vis absorbance spectra showed that Hb still maintained its heme crevice integrity in this composite film.

Synthesis, characterization and mechanism of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide bilayer-encapsulated gold nanosheets and nanocrystals

Single-crystal Au nanosheets and fcc gold nanocrystals of uniform size were synthesized by a novel and simple route. The results of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated the formation of the single-crystal structure of gold nanosheets and fcc nanocrystals. Energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX) showed absorbance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) molecules onto the surface of gold nanostructures.

Design of Fluorescent Assays for Cyanide and Hydrogen Peroxide Based on the Inner Filter Effect of Metal Nanoparticles

We have demonstrated the design of a new type fluorescent assay based on the inner filter effect (IFE) of metal nanoparticles (NPs), which is conceptually different from the previously reported metal NPs-based fluorescent assays. With a high extinction coefficient and tunable plasmon absorption feature, metal NPs are expected to be capable of functioning as a powerful absorber to tune the emission of the fluorophore in the IFE-based fluorescent assays. In this work, we presented two proof-of-concept examples based on the IFE of Au NPs by choosing MDMO-PPV as a model fluorophore, whose fluorescence could be tuned by the absorbance of Au NPs with a much higher sensitivity than the corresponding absorbance approach.

Turn-on fluorescent detection of cyanide based on the inner filter effect of silver nanoparticles

A simple, sensitive fluorescent method for detecting cyanide has been developed based on the inner filter effect (IFE) of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). With a high extinction coefficient and tunable plasmon absorption feature, Ag NPs are expected to be a powerful absorber to tune the emission of the fluorophore in the IFE-based fluorescent assays. In the present work, we developed a turn-on fluorescent assay for cyanide based on the strong absorption of Ag NPs to both excitation and emission light of an isolated fluorescence indicator. In the presence of cyanide, the absorber Ag NPs will dissolve gradually, which then leads to recovery of the IFE-decreased emission of the fluorophore. The concentration of Ag NPs in the detection system was found to affect the fluorescence response toward cyanide greatly. Under the optimum conditions, the present IFE-based approach can detect cyanide ranging from 5.0 x 10 (7) to 6.0 x 10 (4) M with a detection limit of 2.5 x 10 (7) M, which is much lower than the corresponding absorbance-based approach and compares favorably with other reported fluorescent methods.

Solid-state electrochemiluminescence sensor based on the Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) composite film

An effective electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on Nafion/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) composite film-modified ITO electrode was developed. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film was characterized by atomic force microscopy, UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy and electrochemical experiments. The Nafion/PSS composite film could effectively immobilize tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+)) via ion-exchange and electrostatic interaction. The ECL behavior of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) immobilized in Nafion/PSS composite film was investigated using tripropylamine (TPA) as an analyte. The detection limit (S/N = 3) for TPA at the Nafion/PSS/Ru composite-modified electrode was estimated to be 3.0 nM, which is 3 orders of magnitude lower than that obtained at the Nafion/Ru modified electrode. The Nafion/PSS/Ru composite film-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode also exhibited good ECL stability. In addition, this kind of immobilization approach was simple, effective, and timesaving.