Giant Zeeman Effects and Spin Dynamics of Excitons in Dense Self-Organized Quantum Dots of CdSe and Cd1?xMnxSe

Giant Zeeman effects and spin dynamics of excitons are studied in dense self-organized quantum dots (QDs) of CdSe and Cd_1–xMn_xSe. Microphotoluminescence (PL) measurements for each individual dot reveal the typical dot diameter of 3.5 ± 0.2 nm and the density of 5000 m^–2 in the CdSe QDs. The exciton lifetime is shorter in smaller dots with higher energies, indicating energy transfer and tunneling processes among the dots. Circular polarization of excitonic PL is observed at 0 T with an opposite sign to that of the excited light and with the rise time of 50 ps. The CdSe QDs coupled with a Zn_1–xMn_xSe layer show the giant Zeeman shift of exciton, arising from overlapping of exciton wavefunctions in the dots with Mn ions. Spin polarization dynamics in the coupled QDs is also studied.     

Nanofluidic diode and bipolar transistor

Theoretical modeling of ionic distribution and transport in a nanochannel containing a surface charge on its wall, 30 nm high and 5 microm long, suggests that ionic current can be controlled by locally modifying the surface charge density through a gate electrode, even if the electrical double layers are not overlapped. When the surface charge densities at the right and left halves of a channel are the same absolute value but of different signs, this could form the basis of a nanofluidic diode. When the surface charge density at the middle part of a channel is modified, this could form the basis of a nanofluidic bipolar transistor.     

Pump–Probe Spectroscopy of Exciton Spin Injection Process in Diluted Magnetic Quantum Wells

Ultrafast spin dynamics of excitons is studied in a double quantum well composed of Cd_0.92Mn_0.08Te and CdTe wells with a Cd_0.80Mg_0.20Te tunnel barrier, in magnetic fields, by pump-and-probe absorption spectroscopy. The excitonic injection process is clarified with the injection time of 30 ps from the Cd_0.92Mn_0.08Te spin aligner to the CdTe spin detector. The time dependencies of circularly polarized differential absorbances show directly the spin injection into the CdTe well. The spin relaxation of the injected excitons is observed as a function of energy in the exciton band of the CdTe well. In addition, ultrafast relaxation processes of spin-polarized carriers in the Cd_0.78Mn_0.05Mg_0.17Te barrier are studied, when it is stacked directly with the CdTe well.     

Elucidation of degradation mechanism of dioxins during mechanochemical treatment

Model dioxin compounds 4-chlorobiphenyl (4CB), octa-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), and octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) were degraded by a mechanochemical (MC) process that involved milling with calcium oxide by use of a planetary ball mill. The degradation of 4CB produced mainly chloride ions and biphenyl, with the chlorine removal efficiency reaching about 100%. Biphenyl was transformed into terphenyls, quaterphenyls, cyclohexylbenzene, and bicyclohexyl through polymerization and hydrogenation reactions. Measurements of chloride ions after MC treatment of OCDD and OCDF showed about 100% dechlorination of both compounds; tetra- to heptachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (T4-H7CDD/Fs) were detected only at trace levels, and no other chlorinated organic compounds were observed. The residue after MC treatment was gray in color, indicating the possibility of carbonization, but the presence of amorphous graphite could not be confirmed.     

Influence of thermal annealing and ultraviolet light irradiation on LaF3 thin films at 193 nm

Lanthanum fluoride (LaF3) thin films were prepared by resistive heating evaporation and electron-beam gun evaporation under the same deposition rate, deposition substrate temperature, and vacuum pressure. The coated LaF3 films were then treated by heat annealing and UV light irradiation. The optical properties, microstructures, stress, and laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) at a wavelength of 193 nm were investigated. The surface roughness, optical loss, stress, and LIDT of the films were improved after the annealing. The films had better properties when irradiated by UV light as compared with heat annealing.     

Analysis of lipoproteins by microchip electrophoresis with high speed and high reproducibility

A method for the fast analysis of lipoproteins by microchip electrophoresis with light-emitting diode confocal fluorescence detection has been developed. Lipoproteins labeled with BODIPY FL C(5)-ceramide are found to strongly adsorb on the bare surface of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microchip. Sodium dodecyl sulfate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide were therefore utilized to alter lipoproteins and channel surface to make them bear the same type of charge. After modification, the peak shape of lipoproteins was greatly improved, demonstrating lipoprotein adsorption on a PMMA chip dramatically reduced due to electrostatic repulsion. In addition, polymers were added into the running buffer to suppress electroosmotic flow and to serve as a sieving matrix. As a result, lipoprotein separation was manipulated by both electrophoretic mobilities and particle sizes. Various separation parameters including surfactant concentration, buffer pH, and polymer concentration as well as on-line concentration were investigated systematically. Under optimal conditions, two baseline separations of standard lipoproteins including high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein were achieved with different selectivity. This method affords high separation speed (within 100 s) and high reproducibility. The intraassay and interassay RSDs of lipoprotein migration times were in the range of 0.90-1.9%, indicating this method is highly reliable.     

Characterization of AlF3 thin films at 193 nm by thermal evaporation

Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) was deposited by a resistive heating boat. To obtain a low optical loss and high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) at 193 nm, the films were investigated under different substrate temperatures, deposition rates, and annealing after coating. The optical property (the transmittance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical loss) at 193 nm, microstructure (the cross-sectional morphology, surface roughness, and crystalline structure), mechanical property (stress), and LIDT of AlF3 thin films have been studied. AlF3 thin films deposited at a high substrate temperature and low deposition rate showed a lower optical loss. The highest LIDT occurred at the substrate temperature of 150 degrees C. The LIDT of the films prepared at a deposition rate of 2 A/s was higher than that at other deposition rates. The annealing process did not influence the optical properties too much, but it did increase the LIDT and stress.     

Processing of membrane protein crystal using ultraviolet laser irradiation

We demonstrated the processing of a membrane protein crystal, using a pulsed UV laser soft ablation (PULSA) technique. Irradiation with deep-UV laser pulses at a wavelength of 193 nm successfully processed not only single crystals of the membrane transporter protein AcrB but also nylon loops and cryoprotectants at a cryogenic temperature. Nonprocessed parts of the crystals exhibited no signs of crack or denaturation after the laser exposure. The trimmed crystals were found to be of high resolution for X-ray diffraction data collection. The results described here indicate that PULSA processing is an effective tool for membrane protein crystals, as well as for soluble protein crystals.     

Electron spin resonance spectroscopy studies on the free radical scavenging activity of wine anthocyanins and pyranoanthocyanins

Anthocyanins are a group of natural occurring pigments responsible for the red-blue color of grapes and many fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins and derived pigments are of double interest, one technological, as they can be used as natural colorants, and another one due to their implication on human health through their antioxidant activity. Although there are numerous studies regarding the antioxidant activity of grape extracts as well as red wine, the free radical scavenging activity of purified anthocyanins and pyranoanthocyanins is largely unknown. In the present study, the hydroxyl and superoxide anion scavenging activities of anthocyanins and their pyruvic acid adducts were systematically investigated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and spin trapping. The 3-glucosides of delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, pelargonidin and malvidin, and the pyruvic adduct of the 3-glucoside of delphinidin exhibited a potent superoxide anion radical scavenging and, to a lesser extent hydroxyl anion radical scavenging activity. The pyranoanthocyanins of cyanidin, petunidin, malvidin and pelargonidin showed a high capacity to scavenge superoxide anion radicals but did not scavenge hydroxyl radicals. Current data indicate that formation of anthocyanin adducts with pyruvic acid, which may occur during wine ageing or fruit juice processing, decreases the hydroxyl and superoxide anion scavenging and thus could decrease the antioxidant potential of these compounds.     

Photoluminescence properties of CdS and CdMnS quantum dots prepared by a reverse-micelle method

We have investigated photoluminescence properties of CdS and CdMnS quantum dots (QDs) prepared by a reverse-micelle method. Before the surface modification, a broad luminescence band that originates from defects is dominant in CdS QDs. By the modification, the intensity of the band-edge luminescence is remarkably increased. The surface modification also causes drastic changes of decay profiles of the band-edge luminescence. The intensity of Mn2+ luminescence originating from the intra-3d shell transition of Mn2+ is also increased by the surface modification of CdMnS QDs. The decay time of the band-edge luminescence in surface-modified CdMnS QDs is faster than that in CdS QDs, which is due to the energy transfer from excitons to Mn2+.