PMMA–SiO2 hybrid films as gate dielectric for ZnO based thin-film transistors

In this paper we report a low temperature sol–gel deposition process of PMMA–SiO₂ hybrid films, with variable dielectric properties depending on the composition of the precursor solution, for applications to gate dielectric layers in field-effect thin film transistors (FE-TFT). The hybrid layers were processed by a modified sol–gel route using as precursors Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and Methyl methacrylate (MMA), and 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) as the coupling agent. Three types of hybrid films were processed with molar ratios of the precursors in the initial solution 1.0: 0.25, 0.50, 0.75: 1.0 for TEOS: TMSPM: MMA, respectively. The hybrid films were deposited by spin coating of the hybrid precursor solutions onto p-type Si (100) substrates and heat-treated at 90 °C for 24 h. The chemical bonding in the hybrid films was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to confirm their hybrid nature. The refractive index of the hybrid films as a function of the TMSPM coupling agent concentration, were determined from a simultaneous analysis of optical reflectance and spectroscopic ellipsometry experimental data. The PMMA–SiO₂ hybrid films were studied as dielectric films using metal-insulator-metal structures. Capacitance–Voltage (C–V) and current–voltage (I–V) electrical methods were used to extract the dielectric properties of the different hybrid layers. The three types of hybrid films were tested as gate dielectric layers in thin film transistors with structure ZnO/PMMA–SiO₂/p-Si with a common bottom gate and patterned Al source/drain contacts, with different channel lengths. We analyzed the output electrical responses of the ZnO-based TFTs to determine their performance parameters as a function of channel length and hybrid gate dielectric layer.     

SA516Gr70热轧容器钢板的氢渗透特征

利用光学显微镜、扫描电镜及透射电镜等仪器对SA516Gr70热轧容器钢板的显微组织结构进行了分析,并采用氢渗透试验和无损探伤方法研究了其氢渗透特征及开裂行为。结果表明:SA516Gr70容器钢板的显微组织为呈带状分布的铁素体和珠光体,亚结构中含有大量的位错及少量的第二相,并含有大尺寸的复合夹杂物;SA516Gr70容器钢板中的可扩散氢含量随着氢渗透时间的延长而增加,极限氢含量(质量分数,下同)约为0.000 784%;在10mA·cm-2氢渗透电流密度作用下,可扩散氢含量在0.000 409%以下时SA516Gr70容器钢板不会发生氢致开裂,当可扩散氢含量达到0.000 549%以上时便会发生氢致开裂。     

Formulation and characterization of intranasal mucoadhesive nanoparticulates and thermo-reversible gel of levodopa for brain delivery

Levodopa is the drug of choice in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease but it exhibits low oral bioavailability (30%) and very low brain uptake due to its extensive metabolism by aromatic amino acid decarboxylase in the peripheral circulation. Hence, levodopa is co-administered with carbidopa, a peripheral amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor. In an attempt to improve brain uptake and to avoid degradation of levodopa in peripheral circulation and the use of carbidopa in combination, nose to brain drug delivery of levodopa alone via the olfactory route and the trigeminal nerves has been investigated. Chitosan nanoparticles loaded with levodopa (CNL) were prepared and were incorporated in a thermo-reversible gel prepared using Pluronic PF127 (CNLPgel). The preparation of CNL and CNLPgel was optimized for formulation parameters such as chitosan:TPP ratio, drug load Pluronic concentration to obtain desired particle size of CNL, gelling temperature, gelling time and mucoadhesive strength of CNLPgel. Rheological studies indicated a change in the rheological behavior of plain pluronic gel from Newtonian system at 30?°C to pseudoplastic behavior at 35?°C on incorporation of CNL. In vitro release studies from CNL obeyed Higuchi kinetic model, whereas the drug release from CNLPgel followed the Hixson–Crowell model. In vivo studies indicated a maximum recovery of the drug in brain following intranasal administration of CNL suspension in saline closely followed by the drug dispersed in plain pluronic gel.     

Evaluation of intratympanic formulations for inner ear delivery: methodology and sustained release formulation testing

A convenient and efficient in vitro diffusion cell method to evaluate formulations for inner ear delivery via the intratympanic route is currently not available. The existing in vitro diffusion cell systems commonly used to evaluate drug formulations do not resemble the physical dimensions of the middle ear and round window membrane. The objectives of this study were to examine a modified in vitro diffusion cell system of a small diffusion area for studying sustained release formulations in inner ear drug delivery and to identify a formulation for sustained drug delivery to the inner ear. Four formulations and a control were examined in this study using cidofovir as the model drug. Drug release from the formulations in the modified diffusion cell system was slower than that in the conventional diffusion cell system due to the decrease in the diffusion surface area of the modified diffusion cell system. The modified diffusion cell system was able to show different drug release behaviors among the formulations and allowed formulation evaluation better than the conventional diffusion cell system. Among the formulations investigated, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)–poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) triblock copolymer systems provided the longest sustained drug delivery, probably due to their rigid gel structures and/or polymer-to-cidofovir interactions.     

Preface for buccal drug delivery theme issue

During the past years, buccal drug delivery has attracted the attention of researchers looking for alternative delivery routes of administration. As an alternative to oral drug delivery, the buccal mucosal route avoids the passage through the acidic gastric environment, intestinal and bacterial enzymatic activity, absorption issues associated with the intestinal epithelium (e.g. P-glycoprotein efflux), and the first pass metabolism of the liver. Therefore, the buccal route could be a good delivery route for macromolecules and other drugs not compatible with the gastrointestinal tract environment. This “Buccal Drug Delivery” special edition of Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy aims to bring together a range of different aspects relevant to the growing field of buccal drug delivery. The special edition includes thorough reviews of the literature, as well as original research articles touching on most prominent features related to buccal drug delivery systems, such as the move toward the use of nanotechnology in different ways to facilitate buccal drug delivery with the potential to prompt future product developments.     

Synthesis of the uniform hollow spherical Sr2SiO4:Eu2+ phosphors via an h-BN protective method

The uniform hollow spherical Sr₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ green emitting phosphors have been successfully synthesized using hollow silica spheres as templates by an h-BN protective method. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results directly confirmed the existence of the hollow spherical structure with a narrow size distribution and a shell thickness of 15–25 nm. The h-BN protective film, observed by high resolution TEM, plays an important role in the formation of the hollow spherical morphology and the improvement of photoluminescence properties. Comparing with the Sr₂SiO₄:Eu²⁺ micron-phosphor prepared by the traditional solid state reaction method, the hollow spherical phosphor with nano-sized grains exhibits stronger green emission under ultraviolet–blue light excitation. This could be attributed to the elimination of surface defects by the h-BN coating. This research gives an economic and convenient way to synthesize uniform spherical phosphors with high quantum efficiency.     

An All Low‐Temperature Fabrication of Macroporous,Electrochemically Addressable Anatase Thin Films

Macroporous TiO₂ (anatase) thin films are fabricated by an all low‐temperature process in which substrates are dip‐coated in suspensions of mixed anatase nanoparticles and polystyrene beads, and the templating agents are removed by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation at a temperature below 50 °C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy show that the templating polymer beads are removed by UV irradiation combined with the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂. X‐Ray diffraction reveals that nanoparticle growth is negligible in UV irradiated films, while nanoparticle size increases by almost 10 times in calcined films that are prepared for comparison. The macroporous films are prepared on FTO‐(fluorine‐doped tin oxide) coated glass and ITO (indium tin oxide) coated flexible plastics and thereby used as working electrodes. In both cases, the films are electrochemically addressable, and cyclic voltammetry is consistent with the response of bulk TiO₂ for calcined films and of nanoscale‐TiO₂ for UV‐irradiated films.     

一种新型化学阻燃乙烯基酯树脂凝胶工艺

为研究在火电厂排烟内筒的施工制作工艺要求下,温度、促进剂环烷酸钴(Co盐)和引发剂过氧化甲乙酮(MEKP)等因素对其制作所用树脂(一种新型化学阻燃乙烯基酯树脂)凝胶工艺的影响,本文采用凝胶实验、傅里叶变换红外光谱和DSC固化度测试等方法进行试验和理论计算,得到结论:升高温度、提高Co盐和MEKP的用量均能加快树脂凝胶。温度与凝胶时间之间具有确定的幂指数相关关系,但变化以20~30℃为宜;树脂凝胶速率与Co盐用量的3/4和MEKP用量的4/3的乘积呈正比,但Co盐用量以低于1.0wt%、MEKP用量以低于1.5wt%调节更有效。     

地聚合物凝胶结构特性的分子动力学研究

通过分子动力学模拟的方法,在参照实验数据构建起的初始结构模型的基础上,根据N-A-S-H凝胶体系的结构特点,选取Na原子、H2O分子及Si2Al O10基团作为基本单元的组成,构建了地聚合物凝胶结构模型。根据模拟过程中体系的运动轨迹,进行多次优化模拟操作,计算出N-A-S-H凝胶体系的径向分布函数(RDF)、XRD模拟图谱及力学性能等有关参数,并结合实验数据对所建结构模型的准确性进行了验证。结果表明,分子动力学模拟值与实验值吻合较好,不仅验证了所建结构模型的有效性,也为其在N-A-S-H凝胶体系的进一步深入研究提供了可能。